The 21-year-old England prospect suffered a labral tear of his left shoulder in Quins’ Guinness Premiership defeat to Saracens last Saturday and will go under the knife next Monday. He is expected to be out of action for between three and four months.

The severity of the injury will be a blow to both Harlequins, who head to Newcastle tomorrow night still chasing their first win of the season, and England manager Martin Johnson.

Turner-Hall, who made his senior international debut in the non-cap game against the Barbarians in May, is the third member of England’s wider elite squad to suffer a serious shoulder injury in the opening weeks of the season.

England are already without London Irish full-back Delon Armitage for the autumn international campaign while Turner-Hall was a potential candidate to replace Brive inside centre Riki Flutey, who has also had to undergo shoulder surgery.

Harlequins are set to be without Turner-Hall for their first four Heineken Cup pool fixtures, against Cardiff Blues, Toulouse and the back-to-back clashes with Sale Sharks in just before Christmas.

Turner-Hall’s place for tomorrow’s trip to Kingston Park has been taken by George Lowe, who switches from the wing, while Gonzalo Camacho and Danny Care both return from injury.