Luther Burrell is in contention to make his first appearance of the autumn against Samoa after he was named in England’s 28-man squad preparing for Saturday’s Test at Twickenham.
The centre missed England’s three-point defeats to New Zealand and South Africa following a hand injury. He returned for Northampton at the weekend and may see his chances of starting against Samoa improve if Kyle Eastmond, who suffered concussion against the Springboks, does not pass the return to play protocols.
The Bath wing Semesa Rokoduguni, who suffered a thigh injury on his debut against the All Blacks, has not sufficiently recovered to face Samoa.
“We have narrowed the group to give us more focus in training,” Stuart Lancaster said. “It’s good to have Luther back in camp after recovering from his hand injury and we’ll see how he gets on in training this week.
He offers Lancaster, who plans to make a number of changes against Samoa, an option at inside and outside-centre.
“Roko will stay with Bath as he returns to fitness. Kyle suffered a bang to the head at the end of the game. As per the EPS agreement we will release players on Tuesday evening to prepare for the Premiership games at the weekend.”
Burrell started all five of England’s Six Nations matches earlier this year at outside-centre, in the absence of Manu Tuilagi, before missing the first summer Test against New Zealand in Auckland because of Northampton’s involvement in the Premiership final. He returned to the side, for the second Test in Dunedin before he was relegated to the bench for the third in Hamilton.
The back-rows Calum Clark and James Haskell, the scrum-half Richard Wigglesworth and the centre Billy Twelvetrees are the four other additions to the matchday 23 that faced South Africa.
