Northampton Saints and England full-back Ben Foden has been ruled out for up to 12 weeks with an ankle ligament injury.

The 27-year-old was taken off during his side's Aviva Premiership victory at Bath on Friday.

Surgery on the injured ankle means that he will miss England's Autumn internationals and the first round of the Heineken Cup.

Foden had started all three of Northampton's Aviva Premiership matches this season.