Wasps talisman Jack Willis could make his first England appearance in more than a year against France on Saturday after being recalled into head coach Eddie Jones ' squad.
Willis, 25, hasn't played for his country since suffering a horrific left knee injury when he made a try-scoring Six Nations debut against Italy in February 2021.
Azzurri veteran Sebastian Negri caused catastrophic damage after 'crocodile rolling' Willis, who had previously ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his other knee in May 2018.
He made his return for Wasps last month—almost a year to the day following his second serious ACL injury—and Jones has wasted little time in handing the back-row star a chance at his England comeback.
The team could do with the reinforcements, too, after Tom Curry suffered a hamstring injury during Saturday's 32-15 defeat at home to Ireland, who can still lift the Six Nations title if England win in Paris.
The Sale Sharks star lasted only 14 minutes at Twickenham before he was forced off, while lock Charlie Ewels will also miss the trip to France after he was shown a straight red card after just 82 seconds.
England can no longer claim the Six Nations crown themselves, although they can prevent Les Bleus from clinching their third Grand Slam with an upset at the Stade de France.
Willis' Wasps team-mates Alfie Barbeary and Joe Launchbury have also been included among England's 34-man training group before the trip to Paris, with the former still targeting his senior debut.
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Jones is under pressure to record a strong finish to England's Six Nations, with the team facing a potential drop from third to fifth if they lose against France.
Nonetheless, the England chief has backed his side for a "good win" against Fabien Galthie's men and admitted a second successive run to fifth would not be good enough by their standards.
"We’ve taken massive steps forward," said Jones after Saturday's Twickenham defeat.
"Obviously, our aim was to win the championship. We’re disappointed we haven’t, but sometimes circumstances mean the results don’t mimic the performances. The results will catch up."
Willis has played just three times for Wasps this season and saw out the full 80 minutes as Lee Blackett's men fell 27-22 away to Northampton Saints on Sunday.
The absences of Ewels and Curry will force a shuffle among the forwards, with Alex Dombrandt seeking to reclaim his place at No.8 and Bath 's Sam Underhill back in contention.
Ireland are facing injury woes of their own ahead of Saturday's home clash against Scotland, with Leinster locks Ryan (head) and Ryan Baird (back) both ruled out of the send-off fixture.
A Scottish upset would guarantee England finish fourth should they lose in Paris, with Wales expected to leap from fifth when they host Italy in the early kick-off.
England and Scotland are currently level on points and could see their jostle for supremacy come down to points difference should they both lose in Round 5, with Jones' men currently 25 better off in that regard.
The England squad will be cut down to a more manageable size ahead of Thursday's team announcement leading up to their final Six Nations fixture.
England 34-man training squad
Forwards: Alfie Barbeary, Jamie Blamire, Ollie Chessum, Nic Dolly, Alex Dombrandt, Ellis Genge, Jamie George, Joe Heyes, Maro Itoje, Nick Isiekwe, Joe Launchbury, Courtney Lawes, Joe Marler, Sam Simmonds, Kyle Sinckler, Will Stuart, Sam Underhill, Jack Willis.
Backs: Orlando Bailey, Elliot Daly, George Ford, George Furbank, Ollie Hassell-Collins, Louis Lynagh, Max Malins, Joe Marchant, Alex Mitchell, Luke Northmore, Jack Nowell, Harry Randall, Henry Slade, Marcus Smith, Freddie Steward, Ben Youngs.
