Sean Fitzpatrick, the most capped player in All Blacks history, fears his career could be over. The New Zealand skipper has already conceded defeat in his fight to be fit for Saturday's first Test against England at Old Trafford. Now Fitzpatrick admits his long-standing knee injury, which saw him sit out last weekend's win over Ireland at Lansdowne Road, could force him to retire.

The 34-year-old hooker started yesterday's training session at Morley RUFC but he was clearly in some discomfort and spent much of the morning barking out orders to his fellow squad members and in discussion with the coaching staff.

Fitzpatrick has won 91 caps in an illustrious playing career which has seen him win every major honour in the sport. He was part of the All Blacks side which won the inaugural World Cup in 1987 and he skippered New Zealand when they lost the 1995 final to South Africa.

He has led his country 49 times - becoming the first New Zealand captain to win a Test series in South Africa - and he has lifted the Tri-Nations tournament with the All Blacks and enjoyed Super 12 success with Auckland.

Now, though, Fitzpatrick realises his troublesome knee could bring a premature end to what has been a wonderful playing career.

"I've never had an injury like this before and that sort of thing is going through my mind," said Fitzpatrick, who made his international debut against France in June 1986 and went nine years and 63 matches without missing an All Blacks Test.

"I'm trying to be philosophical about it. Now is not the right time to make that decision. I won't continue to play if it's not right."

Fitzpatrick added his prospects of playing on the current tour were getting slimmer by the day, saying: "We'll see how it goes but in terms of games, it's getting towards the end of the tour. It's aching a bit. I'm more pessimistic about playing on the tour now than I was last week."

But New Zealand coach John Hart has not given up on his inspirational skipper.