mobanmarketPlaymaker Owen Farrell is on course to feature in England’s Autumn Nations Series encounter against Argentina on Sunday.
The 31-year-old is going through return-to-play protocols after being knocked out in Saracens’ Premiership victory over Exeter Chiefs on October 22.
Farrell missed the team’s training camp in Jersey but took part in limited training on Wednesday and is expected to be ready to face Los Pumas.
Everything gone to plan
“Owen is just going through the last bits of his return to play but everything’s gone according to plan so far. He looked good in training, full of enthusiasm. Just his normal self really,” attack coach Martin Gleeson said.
His recovery means that he and Marcus Smith are expected to resume their partnership after playing together in all three Tests in Australia.
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“We were in contact with him (during the Jersey camp) and he kept part of what we were doing,” Gleeson said.
“Myself, Owen and Marcus are working very closely together as a trio and everything we’ve been doing we were keeping Owen in the loop and he has an important say in things as well.
“He’s got by a lot of the stages [of return to play], if not all of them by now. We’re not far off.
“Owen’s partnership with Marcus is a big part of where we want to go as a team. They are four games in together and we want to build on that this autumn.”
Smith-Farrell-Tuilagi
A new player will be added to that England midfield partnership with Manu Tuilagi in line to feature at outside centre.
That trio have combined in one match before – against Australia in November 2021 – but on that occasion Tuilagi started on the wing.
“You have Owen, who is very good at organising and good at playing at the line; Manu, who can really hit a hole, and Marcus, who is a bit of a livewire and can play what he sees and has the freedom to do that,” Gleeson told BBC 5Live.
“You want your best players on the park and you want the combinations on the park that will be best for England.”
There could be a surprise inclusion in the form of Jonny May, who has made a staggering recovery from a broken elbow sustained in Gloucester’s Premiership match against London Irish on October 21.
“He’s Jonny May! That’s what he does. His healing powers are unbelievable,” Gleeson said. “He’s in a good spot and is potentially available for this weekend, but we’re not 100 per cent sure on that yet.”
May has been retained in England’s 25-man squad ahead of the upcoming Test at Twickenham on Sunday.
He is vying for a spot on the wing against Joe Cokanasiga and Jack Nowell, with Harlequins’ Cadan Murley one of those to be released back to their clubs.
England’s 25-man squad ahead of Argentina game
Forwards: Alex Coles, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Tom Curry, Ellis Genge, Joe Heyes, Jonny Hill, Maro Itoje, David Ribbans, Sean Robinson, Sam Simmonds, Kyle Sinckler, Jack Singleton, Billy Vunipola, Mako Vunipola, Jack Willis
Backs: Joe Cokanasiga, Owen Farrell, Jonny May, Jack Nowell, Henry Slade, Marcus Smith, Freddie Steward, Manu Tuilagi, Jack van Poortvliet, Ben Youngs