England expect Jamie George to be fit for Scotland clash in Six Nations - as Henry Pollock headlines new arrivals after five players ruled out of opener
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England expect Jamie George to recover from injury in time for a revenge mission against Scotland on February 22, after the former captain was among five players ruled out of the start of the Six Nations. A week after the Saracens hooker was replaced as skipper by Maro Itoje, he was withdrawn from the national squad’s training camp in Girona, northern Spain, with a hamstring injury.
![[George suffered a hamstring problem when playing for Saracens this weekend, while Alex Mitchell, right, is expected to be fit for the Championship opener despite an injury]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/21/18/94358201-14309915-image-a-48_1737482512240.jpg)
Northampton scrum-half Alex Mitchell was another leading casualty of matches last weekend, but he is expected to be fit in time for the championship opener against Ireland in Dublin on February 1. Jack van Poortvliet, Alex Dombrandt and Alex Coles were the others removed from the squad due to medical setbacks.
![[England head coach offered updates on his side's fitness at the Six Nations launch in Rome]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/21/18/94358821-14309915-image-a-49_1737482891593.jpg)
Borthwick responded by recalling Ben Spencer and Raffi Quirke to fill the scrum-half voids, along with uncapped Gloucester lock Arthur Clark and Northampton hooker Curtis Langdon. But the stand-out addition was the Saints’ back-row sensation Henry Pollock – a mainstay of England’s triumph at the Under 20 World Cup last year.
![[Northampton back row sensation Henry Pollock has been called up to the England squad]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/21/18/94358269-14309915-image-a-42_1737482414918.jpg)
Reflecting on further untimely setbacks, Borthwick was philosophical at the Six Nations launch event here in the Italian capital, saying ‘you always anticipate changes’ and ‘you’ve got to adapt’. England expect Jamie George to recover from injury in time to face Scotland on February 22.
George suffered a hamstring problem when playing for Saracens this weekend, while Alex Mitchell, right, is expected to be fit for the Championship opener despite an injury. Asked about the extent of George’s injury, he added: ‘Jamie will hopefully be two-three weeks. Hopefully, it’s sooner than that.’ England have back-to-back matches in the opening rounds; Ireland away and France at home, so George’s likely comeback target is the Calcutta Cup fixture in round three.
