Flutey set for immediate return

Riki Flutey is in line for an immediate return to the England team after he was forced out of last weekend's RBS 6 Nations victory over Wales with a dead leg.

The Brive centre, who missed England's autumn Test campaign following shoulder surgery, had been picked to start alongside Mathew Tait in a new-look midfield combination.

Toby Flood was promoted into the starting line-up in his absence - but Flutey has returned to training and he is likely to be named in England's starting XV to face Italy on Sunday.

Martin Johnson makes his team announcement at midday Wednesday and there are expected to be few other changes from the 30-17 victory over Wales, if any.

The Leicester tight-head Dan Cole, who made his Test debut off the bench, is in with a chance of starting, particularly with David Wilson appearing to have shoulder trouble.

Johnson will be selecting from the same 22 he originally named to play Wales plus the Worcester loose-head Matt Mullan and Harlequins flanker Chris Robshaw, who both remained with the squad after nine players were released on Tuesday night.

Among those made available for Guinness Premiership action were Shontayne Hape, who was promoted onto the bench after Flutey's injury and then withdrew on Saturday morning after catching a bug.

Captain Steve Borthwick sat out training on Tuesday after also feeling unwell and he was kept in isolation from the rest of the squad, but England's management are confident he will be fit to play in Rome.

Lewis Moody has warned England will need all the "dog, heart and enthusiasm" in their armoury if they are to beat the Azzurri on Sunday.

"If Italy are good at anything, it is being a nuisance and stopping opposing teams from playing. There have not been too many classic Six Nations matches over the last decade involving the Azzurri," the Leicester flanker said. "In terms of physicality Italy are right up there as one of the best teams in the world. That is what their game is about."