Kieran Brookes called up to England squad ahead of Six Nations opener

Kieran Brookes may be in line to play in England's RBS 6 Nations opener against Scotland after the Rugby Football Union announced he would link up with Eddie Jones' squad on Sunday night.

The tighthead prop was originally slated to miss at least the start of England's campaign after undergoing surgery on a knee injury he suffered in Northampton's game against Racing Metro on December 19.

He made a timely return to action when he started in Saints' 24-11 defeat to Wasps on Friday, although boss Jim Mallinder told the Northampton Chronicle & Echo: "You could see from his performance that he's not match-sharp."

But the 25-year-old, who was shaping up to be England's preferred tighthead for the Six Nations until his injury, could now be pushing for some game time in the Calcutta Cup next Saturday.

Bath's Henry Thomas, an injury replacement for Brookes in the Elite Player Squad, is the player to make way.