Owen Farrell: Injured fly-half misses Gloucester defeat

Owen Farrell struggled with injury earlier this season and then lost his England place

England fly-half Owen Farrell missed Saracens' narrow defeat by Gloucester on Friday with a "minor strain", just a month before England begin their Six Nations campaign against Wales.

Farrell, 23, has struggled for fitness and form this season and was replaced by George Ford at fly-half for England during the autumn internationals.

Saracens director of rugby Mark McCall said: "He has a very minor strain.

"We are very confident he will be fit for Munster next week."

Farrell aggravated an old quad muscle injury in September against London Irish, which saw him go on to play just 84 minutes in a month.

England head coach Stuart Lancaster dropped him for the first time in two years for the game against Australia in November, which England won 26-17.

The 23-year-old had played Saracens' previous five games before missing the 24-23 defeat away at Gloucester.