England are facing up to a midfield injury glut with Dan Kelly ruled out of Saturday’s Six Nations opener against Scotland on Saturday.
The Leicester centre has suffered a thigh injury in training, and has been replaced in the England squad by clubmate Guy Porter.
Kelly’s injury is the latest midfield blow to new boss Steve Borthwick, with Elliot Daly and Henry Slade also out of the Scotland clash.
Saracens star Daly will miss the entire Six Nations with a 12-week hamstring tear, while Exeter playmaker Slade has picked up a minor hip complaint.
Sale powerhouse Manu Tuilagi, bullish Bath star Ollie Lawrence and the fleet-footed Harlequin Joe Marchant are England’s other fit options in the centre, allied to late call-up Porter.
Leicester centre Kelly thrived under Borthwick at Welford Road en route to the 2022 Gallagher Premiership crown and numbered among the new England head coach’s first Test squad selection.
Now his absence from Borthwick’s first Test in charge creates another potential headache for the former England captain turned head coach.
Kelly’s injury reopens the possibility of captain Owen Farrell starting at inside centre and Harlequins star Marcus Smith featuring from the off at fly-half.
Smith and Farrell paired up as dual playmakers across England’s frustrating autumn, where just one win in four Tests led to boss Eddie Jones’ sacking.
