Billy Vunipola remains on course to start Saturday’s World Cup quarter-final against Australia.
The No8, who suffered an ankle injury in what turned out to be England's last pool match, against Argentina on October 5, trained again on Wednesday and forwards coach Steve Borthwick said: “Billy has progressed well and looks really good in training”.
The outlook on Jack Nowell, however, is less positive ahead of Thursday's team announcement. The winger has a hamstring injury and was the only player not involved in training on Wednesday.
Jonathan Joseph is set to replace Nowell on the bench and that is likely to be the only change to the 23, with Joe Marler - who would have missed the game against France with a back injury - fit.
When they take the field at Oita Stadium, it will be two weeks since England last played, after their game against France was cancelled because of Typhoon Hagibis.
Wing Jonny May, who is in line to win his 50th cap, has no concerns about England going into the match undercooked.
“You do the best you can with the cards you’re dealt,” he said. “If the game [against France] had been played, I’d say ‘brilliant, we’ve had a game, we’ve worked a few more things out. We’re game ready’.
“But that didn’t happen so now what I’m saying is ‘brilliant, we didn’t have to play, we didn’t pick up any injuries. We’ve had two weeks’ prep’. We turn it into a positive.”
Lock Courtney Lawes echoed May’s sentiments, saying: “Come and watch training. We go through plenty of rugby with our clubs and then come together for a Test match.
"Plenty of times we come away with a win after many weeks without having played international rugby, so I think we will be good.”
Australia will also announce their team on Thursday and are poised to name Nic White and Christian Lealiifano as their half-backs, with captain Michael Hooper and David Pocock on the flanks.
England lock Maro Itoje has joined the chorus of voices condemning the racist abuse of their football counterparts in Bulgaria on Monday, describing the problem as “endemic”.
“It is quite disgraceful,” Itoje told Sky Sports. “For players going out there representing England, for them to have to witness that kind of abuse is just unacceptable.
“More needs to be done to curb that kind of behaviour. The governing bodies need to take this issue seriously.”
