O'Loughlin to miss Four Nations

England have suffered a major blow ahead of the Gillette Four Nations Series with the loss of Wigan captain Sean O'Loughlin.

The 28-year-old loose forward, who led the Warriors to Challenge Cup glory in August, will have an operation on a troublesome left hip later this week.

O'Loughlin, who has missed only one of his club's 36 matches this year despite carrying the injury, will be fit for the start of Wigan's pre-season training but his loss will be keenly felt by England. He was a member of last season's Four Nations team and has been in the best form of his career this year.

O'Loughlin's withdrawal follows that of Huddersfield prop Eorl Crabtree, who is to undergo shoulder surgery, and coach Steve McNamara will be keeping an anxious eye on Saturday's Grand Final, with Leeds and St Helens expected to provide several players for his squad.

The England medical team will this week assess medical reports of the rest of the Wigan and Warrington players whose clubs went out of the play-offs at the weekend.

McNamara will announce his 24-man squad for the Four Nations on Monday.

England start their campaign against Wales at Leigh Sports Village on Saturday, October 29, but have a warm-up match against France in Avignon a week earlier.