Lawes could return for England despite his lack of game time

England are ready to pitch Courtney Lawes straight into their crunch Guinness Six Nationsclash with Wales if he impress es during training.

Lawes’ last international appearance was as captain during the July tour to Australia but concussion, glute and calf problems have limited him to only 170 minutes of rugby for his club Northampton this season.

But the 33-year-old, who can play lock or flanker, will take part in his first fullblooded practise session on Thursday as he closes in on his comeback.

Having amassed 96 caps for England and five for the Lions, scrum coach Richard Cockerill insists there would be no qualms over naming Lawes in the starting XV or on the bench despite his lack of game time.

“Courtney has done parts of training this week. He’ ll take full part tomorrow( Thursday) and next week he should be taking a full part in training. Hopefully he’ll be available for selection,” Cockerill said.

“Depending on how he trains, there’s probably no concern over picking him. He’ s experienced and he’s had long injuries previously and come back in and played well, for both club and country. So that doesn’ t really concern us when it comes to a guy of his stature .”

Continuing the theme of positive injury news for Englandis Tom Curry’ s imminent return for Sale against Northampton on Saturday, after recovering from the hamstring injury sustained in early January, and the receding fears over Kyle Sinckler’s facial wound.

Sin ck lerw as omitted from Steve Borthwick’s 26-man training squad for this week but Cockerill insists the Bristol prop will be ready for the trip to Cardiff. “Kyle’s got a bit of a cut on the end of his nose. He’s a 29-year-old tighthead and those are the first stitch es he’s had on his face, so he was probably due some!” Cockerill said.

“And it was from Ellis Genge’s boot, so it was friendly fire as well! Kyle’s fine, he’s just avoiding opening them up again in training, but he’s doing everything else.”

England advanced their aim of improving the worst performingtier-onescrumof 2022 in Sunday’s victory over Italy and Cockerill is determined to leave the set-piece in good health when he steps down at the end of the Guinness Six Nations.

Cockerill is to take up a role as Montpellier’ s forwards coach for the next three years.