England have today been boosted by the news that lock Maro Itoje could return from injury before the end of the 2019 Guinness Six Nations.
The Saracens lock suffered knee ligament damage in the second half of England’s impressive opening win over Ireland in Dublin on Saturday night.
But the British & Irish Lion is not expected to be on the sidelines for too long, with round four against Italy and round five against Scotland still potentially in play for his return.
Jones unveiled a 35-man squad that assembled on Tuesday morning to prepare for their round two clash against France on Sunday at Twickenham.
Itoje was replaced in the squad by his Saracens teammate Nick Isiekwe, who won the last of his three England caps on last summer’s tour to South Africa.
Isiekwe was taken off before half-time in that defeat to the Springboks and has not featured in a Red Rose jersey since.
The 20-year-old is back in contention for Le Crunch on Sunday – but with George Kruis, Joe Launchbury and Courtney Lawes all ahead of him in the pecking order, he will do well to crack England’s matchday 23.
35-man England squad for France Test: Forwards Jack Clifford (Harlequins) Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers) Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs) Tom Curry (Sale Sharks) Ben Earl (Saracens) * Ellis Genge (Leicester Tigers) Jamie George (Saracens) Nathan Hughes (Wasps) Nick Isiekwe (Saracens) George Kruis (Saracens) Joe Launchbury (Wasps) Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints) Ben Moon (Exeter Chiefs) Brad Shields (Wasps) Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins) Jack Singleton (Worcester Warriors) * Billy Vunipola (Saracens) Mako Vunipola (Saracens) Harry Williams (Exeter Chiefs) Mark Wilson (Newcastle Falcons) Backs Chris Ashton (Sale Sharks) Mike Brown (Harlequins) Joe Cokanasiga (Bath Rugby) Elliot Daly (Wasps) Ollie Devoto (Exeter Chiefs) Owen Farrell (Saracens) captain George Ford (Leicester Tigers) Jonny May (Leicester Tigers) Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs) Dan Robson (Wasps) * Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs) Ben Te’o (Worcester Warriors) Ollie Thorley (Gloucester Rugby) * Manu Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers) Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers) *uncapped
