Leicester scrum-half Harry Ellis has undergone an operation on his injured knee but should be fit in time for England's Six Nations campaign.
Ellis took a kick to the back of his knee from Ospreys lock Ian Evans in a stormy Heineken Cup clash last Sunday.
Surgeons carried out an arthroscopy and removed a damaged piece of cartilage from the joint.
The 23-year-old is likely to be sidelined for about the next three to four weeks.
Ellis will miss the Tigers' next three Guinness Premiership games against Bristol (27 December), Saracens (2 January) and London Irish (8 January).
But coach Pat Howard could have his first-choice scrum-half back for the decisive Heineken Cup pool encounters with Stade Francais (15 Jan) and Clermont Auvergne (20 Jan).
The news that Ellis has not suffered the "significant injury" that Howard first feared is also good news for England coach Andy Robinson.
Ellis had his best game for England in their final autumn Test against Samoa and is likely to challenge Matt Dawson for the starting spot in the Six Nations if fit.
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