Injured England prop Sheridan faces uncertain future

England prop Andrew Sheridan will return home with his rugby career in the balance after yet another shoulder injury cut short his World Cup stint in New Zealand. The Sale prop, who has had three shoulder operations in two years, suffered his latest injury during England's tournament opening 13-9 win over Argentina in Dunedin last weekend. Saturday's match saw the powerhouse front row damage his left shoulder, which he dislocated in 2009, and fresh surgery could spell the end of the 31-year-old's career. "Of course there are concerns for the future," said Sheridan. "If I do need another operation then that will be four in two years on my shoulders. "But I'll just have to wait and see what the surgeon says, then make a decision from there. "I'm not going to make any rash decisions because I've had another setback. But you just have to weigh up all the evidence, then see if you can rehab it all properly and get back. "I think everyone knows shoulders are quite complicated structures, so it's difficult to come back. "It's massively disappointing but I have to go back, speak to the surgeon, speak to the club and make a decision about what to do next." Sheridan had played just once since March - England's 20-9 warm-up win away to Ireland, before coming to New Zealand. He'd already undergone "revision" surgery to correct a right shoulder operation which had not worked out as planned. Sheridan, capped 40 times, is renowned as a strong scrummager and during England's march to the World Cup final four years ago helped wreck Australia's scrum during a last eight win in Marseille. And it was the thought of what he could do that persuaded England manager Martin Johnson to include him in his World Cup squad despite Sheridan's lack of recent match-time. "I've only played two games and now I've had another setback. I'm extremely disappointed," said Sheridan. "I knew that something went wrong during the (Argentina) game," added Sheridan, who was replaced by Matt Stevens after just after an hour of action against the Pumas at Dunedin's Otago Stadium. "I had the scan on Monday. Once they knew there was a tear there, it was obvious I would have to go home. It's a significant injury." England are waiting on tournament officials to sign off on Sheridan's departure before announcing a replacement. They do not have to select like-for-like although Wasps' Tim Payne and Northampton's Paul Doran-Jones are the leading loosehead prop alternatives as both were in England's 45-man training squad before failing to make Johnson's final 30 for New Zealand. England have four other props already at the tournament and will be able to cover Sheridan's absence against Georgia on Sunday. Alex Corbisiero is a specialist loosehead while Stevens and David Wilson can play both sides of the scrum. "Losing someone with the experience of Sheridan is tough, but it will make us stronger and pull together," said Corbisiero. "We have four good players there." Johnson, who on Tuesday saw England lock Courtney Lawes banned for two matches for kneeing Argentina hooker Mario Ledesma, said: "It's really sad for Sheri. He has been unlucky with injuries and we wish him all the best for his recovery. "We brought five props so we have options there and we can bring another player out, but we will decide what to do about that in due course."