England and Leicester lock Martin ruled out until 2026

George Martin has been capped 21 times by England since making his debut in 2021

England lock George Martin will miss the autumn Test series after being ruled out until at least January following shoulder surgery.

The 24-year-old Leicester Tigers second row has not played since being forced off the pitch in the Six Nations victory against France in February, with a combination of knee and shoulder injuries keeping him out.

He underwent surgery in the summer, but has now been ruled out for the "first half" of the Prem campaign, with Leicester's 10th league fixture, which starts the second phase of the season, on the weekend of 24 January.

"As with any nerve injuries, the timeframe on George's availability is slightly unknown, but to give George the best chance to perform, we know it won't be during the first half of this season," Parling told the club website.

With Martin unlikely to feature until the start of 2026, his return could coincide with when Steve Borthwick will be naming his squad for the next edition of the Six Nations.

The lock has earned 21 caps for England, and firmly established himself in Borthwick's side last year when he started in all the summer and autumn fixtures.

"George is a fantastic player and a valued member of the England squad," Borthwick said.

"He approaches everything he does with professionalism and commitment, and there's no doubt he's bringing that same focus to his rehab. We look forward to seeing him back when the time is right."