Elliot Daly could be handed a start in England’s Six Nations clash with Scotland

Elliot Daly is in contention for a return to England’s midfield for the first time since November 2016 against Scotland at Murrayfield on Saturday.

The 29-year-old Saracens centre was a late addition to the squad after Owen Farrell and Jonny May suffered injuries which ruled them out of the Six Nations. And with Joe Marchant of Harlequins forced into isolation after testing positive for Covid at the end of last week, Daly could get a Calcutta Cup recall.

Eddie Jones is due to name his line-up this morning and it is understood that many of the players hoping to be picked remained in the dark about their prospects last night. Jones will only inform his squad about the selection shortly before it is officially announced and there must be close calls in several positions.

Elliot Daly has not played in England’s midfield since 2016, but could start there on Saturday

Last summer, Daly played two Tests in midfield for the Lions but it is more than five years since the versatile back appeared in his favoured position for England. 

He was named at outside centre for the final match of last year’s Six Nations against Ireland in Dublin before an enforced reshuffle meant he reverted to full back. He had become a fixture in the No 15 jersey since switching there in June 2018.

With Farrell unavailable, coach Jones was denied his Plan A of fielding the captain at No 12 alongside Marcus Smith at fly-half. Plan B was likely to involve Henry Slade shifting to inside centre and forming an alliance with Marchant, as he did effectively for most of the autumn win over world champions South Africa. 

Daly could be handed his opportunity as Owen Farrell has been ruled out due to injury

Marchant was retained in a training squad of 29 in the hope that he might be cleared to play, but that scenario now appears unlikely.

If, as expected, this clash with the Scots comes too soon for him, Daly is on standby, but he is not the only name featuring in a potential fall-back plan.

Gloucester centre Mark Atkinson provides an alternative option at inside centre, allowing Slade to operate in the wider channel.

Tom Curry could be handed the captain’s armband for Saturday’s match at Murrayfield

There will be much intrigue ahead of this morning’s England team announcement, amid optimism at Sale that their flanker Tom Curry will be unveiled as captain in the absence of Farrell and Courtney Lawes. 

He has spent a lot of time training as part of a back-row unit featuring Lewis Ludlam at openside and Sam Simmonds at No 8 — which suggests there is a chance the Exeter loose forward could claim that place ahead of Alex Dombrandt.

There has been little to suggest Smith will be ousted from 10, although the dire Edinburgh weather forecast may mean conditions are more suited to George Ford’s shrewd game management.