England prop Andrew Sheridan will miss Saturday's game against New Zealand at Twickenham as he continues to receive treatment on a neck injury, with Gloucester's Nick Wood called into the senior squad from the England Saxons as cover.

Sheridan sustained the injury in the defeat to Australia 10 days ago and also missed last weekend's loss to South Africa.

The England coach Martin Johnson has further injury concerns as he looks to improve on England's dismal performance against the Springboks. Leicester lock Ben Kay was yesterday called into the squad as a possible replacement for Tom Palmer, who continues to receive treatment for a tight right calf, while inside centre Riki Flutey was replaced after 32 minutes against the Springboks with a hamstring problem.

Johnson will announce his side to face New Zealand later today, with Danny Cipriani likely to be the most high profile casualty of the coach's need to make tactical changes after England's worst ever home defeat last week.