Martin Johnson today confirmed Steve Borthwick will lead England into the Six Nations despite the team's dreadful run of Test defeats in November.

Johnson said he has total faith in the Saracens captain, who was powerless to stop England suffering heavy beatings by Australia, South Africa and New Zealand at Twickenham.

While announcing recalls for the experienced Mark Cueto and Mike Tindall to his 32-man squad for the Championship, England manager Johnson said: "Steve is continuing as captain. Most people don't see the amount of great work he does behind closed doors. He did a great job in November.

"Steve did become the target of criticism but I believe he's done a fantastic job in difficult circumstances. The return of Mike Tindall, Lewis Moody, who was injured, and Mark Cueto will give the squad a lot of experience and this will help Steve as captain."

Johnson has used his allowed maximum of five selection changes from the Elite Player Squad announced last July and although there was no place for Steffon Armitage, he said the London Irish No7 could still feature.

The manager has kept the injured London Wasps pair of lock Tom Palmer - who will miss the Championship - and No7 Tom Rees, who could be back for the last two matches, in the elite squad and will call in injury replacements nearer the first game, against Italy on 7 February.

That will keep Armitage believing he can follow brother Delon into the senior England squad, although he still has to move ahead of Bath's Michael Lipman in the open-side reckoning.

Johnson said: "In terms of our back row forwards, we have two very good players in Steffon and Michael who could be brought in. Steffon is one of the form players of the Premiership this season and there is a slot to be filled at No7 in the squad. Michael has experience and is a proven leader and we will have a difficult choice to make."

Johnson has called up the uncapped Ben Foden, who has been in great form at full-back for Northampton. However, the 23-year-old is also an outstanding scrum-half and takes the place of London Irish No9 Peter Richards.

Cueto and Tindall have come in for Olly Barkley and Dan Hipkiss respectively, Harlequins wing Ugo Monye replaces James Simpson-Daniel, Quins No8 Nick Easter is preferred to Jordan Crane and Gloucester's Olly Morgan gets the nod over Tom Varndell.

There was no place, however, for Julian White, who had been tipped for a first senior call-up since making himself unavailable for the 2007 World Cup. The Leicester tight-head prop was instead drafted into the Saxons squad to replaced the injured Jason Hobson.

Danny Cipriani was dropped for the last of the autumn Tests against New Zealand and has struggled for form since his return from a serious ankle injury in October.

But Johnson insisted he was happy with Cipriani, Toby Flood and Shane Geraghty as his options at No10.

"Danny Cipriani has had some issues with charged down kicks," said Johnson. "He will be put under pressure and targetted and that is something Danny has to deal with - along with the media attention he gets."

After facing Italy, England are away to Wales and Ireland and Johnson knows his side must improve if they are to make an impact in those games.

He said: "We learned a lot of harsh lessons in November and we weren't good enough. Our performance levels have to be better with two tough away games in the first three matches."

Six Nations squad

Backs: D Armitage (L Irish), D Care (Quins), D Cipriani (Wasps), M Cueto (Sale), H Ellis (Leics), T Flood (Leics), B Foden (N'hampton), R Flutey (Wasps), S Geraghty (L Irish), U Monye (Quins), O Morgan (Gloucs), J Noon (Newc), P Sackey (Wasps), M Tait (Sale), M Tindall (Gloucester)

Forwards: S Borthwick (Saracens), G Chuter (Leics), T Croft (Leicester), N Easter (Quins), D Hartley (N'hampton), J Haskell (Wasps), N Kennedy (L Irish), L Mears (Bath), L Moody (Leics), L Narraway (Gloucs), T Palmer (Wasps), T Payne (Wasps), T Rees (Wasps), S Shaw (Wasps), A Sheridan (Sale), M Stevens (Bath), P Vickery (Wasps)