Hodgson gets call-up with Wilko a doubt
SALE SHARKS’ Charlie Hodgson was last night called into the England squad as precautionary cover for the injured Jonny Wilkinson.
The Toulon fly-half sustained a head injury in the 15-15 draw with Scotland at Murrayfield on Saturday after an accidental clash with captain Steve Borthwick.
Wilkinson was replaced by Toby Flood in the second-half and told to spend the rest of the match in a darkened room.
But the fact he didn’t suffer concussion keeps him in contention for a place in Martin Johnson’s starting XV for this Saturday’s final Six Nations clash with France in Paris.
Wilkinson is one of several England players under observation from medics as Johnson mulls over his starting line-up for Paris, expected to be announced later today.
The good news is that Harlequins winger Ugo Monye, who was stretchered from the field with his neck in a brace following a nasty clash with Kelly Brown, could be set for a shock return, while Wasps lock Simon Shaw, who missed the Scotland game with a shoulder injury, is also expected to take part in full training today.
Monye said: “I had pain down the right side of my neck and pins and needles and I still have some of that in my right arm and will be working very closely with the England medical guys at our team hotel.
“I would love to be involved in the match with France and expect to be able to take part in full contact sessions this week with the rest of the squad.”
France, meanwhile, have named the same 23-man squad which beat Italy 46-20 on Sunday.