Croft is fitting bill for Rome debut

As head coach Brian Ashton began to rebuild his team from the debris of Twickenham, a medical report contained the startling news that a previously injured England player had been ruled in for Sunday's match against Italy in Rome instead of out.

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Croft's recovery from the shoulder damage which cost him his debut against Wales points to his selection in a revamped back row to replace the one which dissolved last Saturday when England name their 22 tomorrow.

Michael Lipman, Bath's Anglo-Australian, is next in line as third choice for the No 7 jersey vacated by the double loss of Lewis Moody and Tom Rees, his substitute against Wales.

The double blow forced Ashton to summon Sale openside Magnus Lund to the team's base in Bath yesterday as a precaution against further disruption. Lipman, who won the last of his three caps against Australia in Melbourne more than 18 months ago, has not played in the Six Nations.

England, who have also lost four other back row players since the World Cup to injury and retirement, will train today with two more reinforcements, London Irish fly half Shane Geraghty and Newcastle scrum half Lee Dickson, a relative novice who has made only four Premiership starts this season without a single 80-minute appearance.

Dickson replaces the injured Paul Hodgson of London Irish as the third scrum half behind Andy Gomarsall and Richard Wigglesworth, an unused substitute against Wales. Capped by Scotland at Under-19 level, Dickson switched allegiance two seasons ago and partnered Geraghty during England Saxons' win against Ireland at Leicester on Friday.

Geraghty, voted man of the match, is back in peak condition, injury having hampered his progress since a fine debut against France at Twickenham.

English fears that their fly half resources would be hit by Jonny Wilkinson's citing disappeared last night when the match commissioner, veteran former Ireland referee John West, decided to take no action over the incident which resulted in Wales flanker Jonathan Thomas being helped back into the dressing room. The verdict preserves Wilkinson's spotless disciplinary record.

The player had protested his innocence. 'I feel that it was not my tackle and it is always very sad to see a player going off injured,' he said. 'I stand firmly against foul play in the game. It has never been my desire or intention to be involved in anything like that and neither will it ever be.'

Ashton, who resisted any temptation to recall Josh Lewsey after dropping him from the original Six Nations squad a month ago, has to make enforced changes behind the scrum by replacing David Strettle on the left wing and Mike Tindall at outside centre.

Tindall spent a third night under observation in hospital last night for a bruised liver, a condition which will eliminate him from the remainder of the tournament.

Wales lock Alun-Wyn Jones, who sustained ankle ligament damage against England, will miss Saturday's match against Scotland. Ian Evans is poised to be named as his replacement at the Millennium Stadium. There are also lingering doubts over Thomas, who was sent for further tests last night on his head injury.

Scotland will be without full back Rory Lamont who picked up shoulder and ankle injuries during defeat by France at Murrayfield.