England wing David Strettle's World Cup dream could be over after he broke a bone in his foot during training.

Strettle, who has won three caps, was hurt in a session at England's University of Bath base yesterday afternoon.

The Harlequins star has broken the fifth metatarsal in his left foot, and he will see a specialist in London tonight, accompanied by Simon Kemp, the England team doctor, and Steph Brennan, Harlequins' head physiotherapist. The injury happened during an open running element of the session, and no contact was involved.

"I am obviously sorry to hear about David's injury and I wish him a speedy recovery," Brian Ashton, the England head coach, said. "I won't make any decisions about a possible replacement until I receive a full briefing on the consultation tomorrow morning."

Strettle appeared to be a certainty for Ashton's elite World Cup group. The 24-year-old made a try-scoring Test debut against Ireland during the RBS Six Nations Championship last season, and he also started subsequent games against France and Wales. He toured South Africa with England earlier this summer, but illness dashed his hopes of featuring in the two-Test series, spending three days in the intensive care unit of a Johannesburg hospital with a stomach virus that swept through England's camp. His latest setback is likely to ruin any chance he had of featuring in the World Cup.

David Beckham and Wayne Rooney, the England footballers, both endured seven-week absences when they suffered similar injuries at various stages of their career. Beckham broke the second metatarsal in his left foot 51 days before the 2002 World Cup, while Rooney broke the fourth metatarsal in his right foot prior to last year's World Cup. A similar lay-off for Strettle would effectively sideline him throughout England's World Cup pool campaign between September 8 and 28.

His potential loss has been described as a "massive blow" by Paul Sackey, the Wasps and England winger.

“I don’t know the full extent of his injury," Sackey said. “He is an exciting player who has performed really well. It would be a massive blow, but if he is out, then we just have to get on with it and get on with the plans we have put in place so far.”

If Ashton decides to draft a replacement into his training squad, those in contention would probably include Iain Balshaw, James Simpson-Daniel, Tom Voyce and Dan Scarbrough.

Ashton has already ruled uncapped Bristol number eight Dan Ward-Smith out of his World Cup plans after he failed to recover in time from a knee injury.

Centre Mike Tindall (leg) could also miss the final World Cup squad cut - a decision could be made tomorrow - while Mark Cueto (groin), Tom Rees (hamstring) and Peter Richards (back) are also currently battling injuries.

Wing Ben Cohen and prop Julian White, meanwhile, both made themselves unavailable for the World Cup during the past few months for personal reasons. Ashton will name his 30-man squad next Tuesday.