Sale Sharks prop Andrew Sheridan has been ruled out for four months after requiring a shoulder reconstruction.
The England international will miss the remaining four pool matches against Toulouse, Cardiff Blues and the double-header against Harlequins in December.
Sheridan, who will undergo an operation at the BMI Alexandra Hospital in Cheadle on Wednesday, now faces a race to return to full fitness for the 2010 Six Nations.
"He's a great presence around our team and he will be missed," said Sale director of rugby Kingsley Jones.
"It's bad news for Andrew, England and Sale Sharks and we just have to come to terms with it."
Loose-head Sheridan sustained the injury when a scrum collapsed in the final minutes of Sale's 27-26 European victory over Cardiff at Edgeley Park on Friday.
