Smith and Lawrence in Calcutta Cup fitness race after return to England squad

England squad is getting healthier as big names look to return to the fold ahead the trip to Murrayfield a week on Saturday

Marcus Smith has linked up with England to continue rehabilitating his calf injury, the team announced on Wednesday, with Ollie Lawrence also continuing his recovery from a hip issue with the squad.
As reported on Tuesday by Telegraph Sport there are full returns to the squad for Manu Tuilagi, George Martin and Luke Cowan-Dickie ahead of next weekend’s Six Nations clash against Scotland at Murrayfield.
Three names dropping out from the 36-player group are Newcastle hooker Jamie Blamire, Northampton back-row Tom Pearson and Harlequins back Oscar Beard.
Given Lawrence’s current status, Tuilagi and Fraser Dingwall would appear to be the frontrunners to start at inside centre for England next weekend. Tuilagi has now recovered from a groin issue which has kept him out since December 22, while Dingwall has started in England’s two wins over Italy and Wales, scoring last Saturday at Twickenham.
With Smith still working his way back from the calf injury he suffered during England’s pre-tournament training camp in Portugal, with England previously suggesting that he would not feature until the back end of the Championship, George Ford and Fin Smith remain the most likely options at fly-half.
Martin’s return will come as a boost for head coach Steve Borthwick, with the talented young forward not having played for England since his impressive performance in the Rugby World Cup semi-final defeat to South Africa. Martin had previously been sidelined by a minor knee injury he picked up in the middle of January.
Having Martin available creates an interesting selection decision for Borthwick, having previously paired Martin with Maro Itoje while using Courtney Lawes as a blindside flanker during the Rugby World Cup. Lawes has since retired, meaning England could elect to reunite Leicester team-mates Ollie Chessum and Martin together in the second row and move Itoje to six, or decide that Martin should operate as the blindside flanker while keeping Itoje and Chessum together.
Either scenario would come at the expense of Ethan Roots, the Exeter forward who was player of the match against Italy on his Test debut.