Mitchell out of Six Nations but back for Saints’ run-in
Alex Mitchell’s knee injury will rule him out of the rest of the Six Nations, but he should return to club action for Northampton Saints within two months after avoiding a worst-case scenario.
Telegraph Sport understands the scrum-half sustained a grade-two strain to the anterior cruciate ligament during England’s open training session on Friday. He is thought to have twisted awkwardly in a tackle from behind.
However, scans have revealed he did not suffer a tear, which would almost certainly have ended his season.
Mitchell’s injury means he will miss the games against Scotland, Ireland and France. He has been told he will not require surgery, though, and could return in as little as six weeks, with a maximum layoff of 12 weeks.
He should therefore be available for Northampton’s pursuit of silverware. Saints, who are top of the Premiership, resume their domestic schedule by travelling to Ashton Gate to face Bristol Bears on Friday, March 22.
They host Saracens seven days later before taking on Munster at Franklin’s Gardens in the last 16 of the Champions Cup on Sunday, April 7. Win that game and Northampton would host either Bulls or Lyon in a quarter-final a week later.
Tom James, Callum Braley and academy graduates Archie Mcparland and Jake Garside sit below Mitchell in Saints’ scrum-half pecking order.
England, meanwhile, have called up Harry Randall, who had initially been named as one of five players in the “A” squad, to cover for Mitchell. Unless there is another reshuffle, it seems likely that Danny Care and Ben Spencer will be in the matchday squad for the Calcutta Cup encounter against Scotland at Murrayfield on Saturday. Care came off the bench to replace Mitchell during the wins against Italy and Wales, with Spencer a travelling reserve.