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Scrum-half Alex Mitchell is set to be fit for England’s Six Nations meeting with Ireland in Dublin on Saturday.<\/b><\/p>\n
The 27-year-old had been a doubt with a knee problem but took a full part in training in Girona, Spain on Monday morning.<\/p>\n
Mitchell was one of England’s key players in the first part of 2024 but missed the Autumn Nations Series because of a neck injury.<\/p>\n
England face double defending champions Ireland on Saturday at Aviva Stadium.<\/p>\n
Mitchell’s return to fitness means club-mate Henry Pollock drops out of the 36-man squad, and he has left Girona to join up with England Under-20s.<\/p>\n
England boss Steve Borthwick was hit by a string of withdrawals at the start of last week, with Jamie George, Alex Coles, Alex Dombrandt and Jack van Poortvliet all dropping out of the squad.<\/p>\n
But Mitchell’s fitness is a major boost as England look to win in Dublin for the first time since 2019.<\/p>\n
Borthwick is expected to select Marcus Smith to partner Mitchell at half-back, after the Harlequins playmaker wore the number 10 shirt throughout the summer and autumn.<\/p>\n
Henry Slade and Ollie Lawrence look set to pair up at centre for the 11th consecutive Test, with Freddie Steward set to start at full-back in place of the injured George Furbank.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n