The British and Irish Lions prop sustained the injury in the 73rd minute following a scrum and could be out for around three months, ruling him out of England's Test matches next month.

Jones said: “It looks like Andrew has dislocated his shoulder.

“It has gone out and come back in again, and if he misses the autumn internationals it would be a big loss because we know how important he is to England.”

Sheridan's injury marred a classic encounter which saw Sale's teenage lock James Gaskell enhance his fast-growing reputation with a virtuoso performance.

The 19-year-old lock from Sandbach, who stands 6ft 7in, created a try for skipper Dean Schofield in the 37th minute with a fine run and then went over himself shortly after the restart as Sale responded in style to last week's thumping defeat in Toulouse.