Shanklin originally picked up the injury against Ulster in April

The Cardiff Blues centre has suffered a recurrence of the knee problem that plagued him on the Lions tour.

The 25-year-old returned against Wasps last week but is now expected to be out of action until the new year.

Wales are already without Gavin Henson and Haldane Luscombe, while Sonny Parker is out of form and has been struggling with a hamstring problem.

Ceri Sweeney, who has also struggled with groin problems, is expected to fill Henson's inside centre spot.

Ospreys star Henson will be back in training shortly after his groin operation and - although he will not face New Zealand - he has an outside chance of playing some part in November.

Tom has not done any further damage to the knee, but he has simply not recovered as we all thought Blues coach Dai Young

Mark Taylor would seem to be favourite for the number 13 shirt, although captain Gareth Thomas could also move into midfield.

Jamie Robinson, Matthew Watkins, Tom Cheeseman and Dafydd James could be outside contenders.

Blues coach Dai Young broke the news of Shanklin's absence, saying: "It's obviously a huge disappointment for both ourselves and Wales.

"Tom has not done any further damage to the knee, but he has simply not recovered as we all thought.

"He just needs time for the problem to settle down and we've been told that he'll probably be out until the new year.

"He will not undergo any further treatment. Unfortunately he just needs rest."

Dwayne Peel is an injury concern for the Wales camp

Centre is far from the only problem position in the Wales team, although Lions scrum-half Dwayne Peel is confident he will overcome ankle surgery before the autumn Tests.

The Llanelli Scarlet, 24, had an operation on an ankle spur, a similar problem to the one that ruled cricketer Simon Jones out of England's Pakistan tour, but expects to be back for the second round of the Heineken Cup.

Kevin Morgan (ankle and head) and Gareth Cooper (ankle) are both nursing injuries but are not major worries.

Fly-half Stephen Jones' should be back from his ankle injury in time to face the Ospreys for Clermont Auvergne.

Mark Jones made a welcome return to action last weekend, and Shane Williams came back from his groin injury against Connacht.

Wales flanker Dafydd Jones has made a swifter-than-expected comeback from a finger problem and expects to be back to face Edinburgh in the Heineken Cup.

But Lions prop Gethin Jenkins has been ruled out of the autumn Test series against the All Blacks, Fiji, South Africa and Australia, as he targets a possible December comeback.

Robin McBryde has retired and there are injury worries at hooker for Steve Jones and Rhys Thomas.

Lions back-row man Ryan Jones is another worry after he left the field in the Ospreys' game with Bath after chipping a bone in his shoulder.

The Ospreys hope he will be fit in time for their Heineken Cup home opener against Stade Francais on 23 October.

Wales have called a number of players into their training squad to supplement resources, including Scarlets fly-half Gareth Bowen and full-back Lee Byrne, plus Dragons tight-head prop Rhys Thomas.