England retain James Haskell in Six Nations squad for Scotland game

England have retained James Haskell in their 25-man squad for Saturday’s Six Nations clash against Scotland at Murrayfield.

Haskell missed the first two games of the tournament after serving a four-week suspension for a red card received while playing for club side Wasps.

The flanker, who was omitted from Eddie Jones’ squad for last year’s autumn internationals, was banned for a dangerous tackle on Harlequins’ Jamie Roberts in the Champions Cup on January 13.

Prop Joe Marler is also in the squad after completing a six-week ban for striking Sale’s TJ Ioane in the head with his shoulder. Both players missed England’s training camp in Portugal.

Gabriel Ibitoye, Nathan Earle, Harry Mallinder and Denny Solomona have been culled from the original squad, and Jones will drop two more players on Thursday when he names his starting line-up.

Nathan Hughes, who had previously been sidelined for six weeks by a knee injury, could go straight into the team with Sam Simmonds missing out due to a shoulder problem.

England’s 25-man squad v Scotland:

Backs: Mike Brown (Harlequins), Jonny May (Leicester), Anthony Watson (Bath), Danny Care (Harlequins), Owen Farrell (Saracens), George Ford (Leicester), Jonathan Joseph (Bath), Jack Nowell (Exeter), Ben Te’o (Worcester), Richard Wigglesworth (Saracens).

Forwards: Charlie Ewels (Bath), James Haskell, Nathan Hughes (both Wasps), Maro Itoje, George Kruis (both Saracens), Courtney Lawes (Northampton), Joe Launchbury (Wasps), Chris Robshaw (Harlequins), Sam Underhill (Bath), Dan Cole (Leicester), Jamie George (Saracens), Dylan Hartley (Northampton), Joe Marler (Harlequins), Mako Vunipola (Saracens), Harry Williams (Exeter).

(c) Sky News 2018: England retain James Haskell in Six Nations squad for Scotland game