WORCESTER Warriors ace Chris Pennell has been drafted into the England training squad amid concerns over the fitness of Mike Brown.
The Harlequins full back is a doubt for England’s Six Nations clash against Ireland on Sunday as he continues to recover from concussion.
Brown was stretchered off against Italy at Twickenham earlier this month after being knocked out and the 29-year-old is understood to have experienced concussion symptoms on Friday.
Saracens star Alex Goode is expected to replace Brown in the number 15 jersey, but head coach Stuart Lancaster has offered Pennell the chance to stake his claim for a place.
The Worcester academy graduate made his international debut in last summer’s tour of New Zealand and impressed for England Saxons in their win over Ireland Wolfhounds.
Lancaster said: “Pennell did well on the New Zealand tour and with Mike still in the early stages of the graduated return to play protocol we wanted another full back to train along with Alex Goode.”