England nine Mitchell set to be fit for Ireland

Men’s Six Nations: Ireland v England

Venue: Aviva Stadium Date: Saturday, 1 February Kick-off: 16: 45 GMT

Scrum-half Alex Mitchell is set to be fit for England’s Six Nations meeting with Ireland in Dublin on Saturday.

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.

Mitchell played a key role for England in the first half of 2024, but he suffered a neck injury that prevented him from playing in the Autumn Nations Series.

On Saturday at Aviva Stadium, England travel to Ireland, who are currently in second place.

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.

Jamie George, Alex Coles, Alex Dombrandt, and Jack van Poortvliet all left the England squad at the start of last week, which was followed by a string of withdrawals from Steve Borthwick.

After the Harlequins playmaker wore the number 10 shirt all summer and fall, Borthwick is anticipated to select Marcus Smith to play half-back with Mitchell.

As England attempt to turn around a disappointing 2024 and take a significant loss in Dublin, says 31-year-old centre Slade, continuity of selection is essential.

Slade told BBC Sport, “The more you play with someone, the more you become familiar with what they are doing in each situation.”

“The more I work with Ollie, the more I become familiar with his preferences and the ball he likes to play.”

” My job as a second playmaker is to get the ball into players like his hands and Freemo’s]Tommy Freeman] hands on the outside, just to let them do what they do. “

In a 32-20 victory over England six years ago, Slade scored two tries as part of the final England team to triumph at Aviva.

“We had a wonderful time,” the statement read. We just attacked that game with everything from the start, and it is going to have to be nothing less than that]on Saturday], “he said.