Vickery facing fitness battle

England captain Phil Vickery faces a crucial 48 hours in his bid to be fit for the RBS 6 Nations clash against France at Twickenham.

It has been confirmed that Vickery suffered concussion during Wasps' Guinness Premiership victory over Bristol on Sunday.

He will be the subject of an ongoing medical review during the next 48 hours, while fly-half Jonny Wilkinson is due to undergo a scan on his right hamstring.

Lock Steve Borthwick, meanwhile, hopes to train on Wednesday as he battles a rib problem, but head coach Brian Ashton has called up three players into the England training squad.

Prop Stuart Turner and his Sale Sharks colleague Chris Jones, together with London Irish fly-half Shane Geraghty, will provide "precautionary cover" for Vickery, Borthwick and Wilkinson.

Centre Andy Farrell is currently receiving treatment for "acute lower back pain" at England's Bath University training base.