Ireland centre Gordon D'Arcy is facing six weeks on the sidelines © Getty Images

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Players/Officials: Gordon D'Arcy | Mike McCarthy | Jonathan Sexton | Simon Zebo

Tournaments/Tours: Six Nations | RaboDirect PRO12

Teams: Ireland

Ireland have been dealt a fresh injury blow with the news that centre Gordon D'Arcy will miss the rest of the Six Nations with a foot injury.

The 33-year-old suffered the injury during his side's 12-6 defeat to England in Dublin on Sunday. He returned to training with the rest of the Irish squad this week but following further discomfort he had a scan that confirmed a stress injury to a bone in his right foot.

The Leinster veteran will have to wear a protective boot for at least four weeks and is expected to return to action in six weeks, depending on the progress of his recovery. Therefore D'Arcy, who has started both of Ireland's Six Nations matches this year, will miss next weekend's clash with Scotland and the later Tests against France and Italy.

Ireland have already lost winger Simon Zebo (foot) for the rest of the tournament while Jonathan Sexton (hamstring) and Mike McCarthy (knee) will miss the match at Murrayfield and prop Cian Healy is also suspended for the next two games.

As a result, coach Declan Kidney will need to make at least five changes for his side's visit to Murrayfield when he names his latest training squad on Sunday evening following this weekend's RaboDirect PRO12 clashes.