Six Nations: Wilkinson Injury Fear Prompts Catt Call-up

Mike Catt has been drafted into England's squad ahead of the Six Nations clash with Ireland after Jonny Wilkinson missed training with a hamstring problem.

The fly-half sat out today's session, forcing coach Brian Ashton to summon Catt, much as he had uncapped Harlequins wing David Strettle, who will provide cover for Jason Robinson, himself suffering from a neck injury.

Ashton says no decision on either Wilkinson or Robinson will be made for "at least another 24 hours", by when England will be in Dublin ahead of Saturday's Croke Park game. England, however, say Robinson has made a good initial recovery from yesterday's training blow at Bath University, and will receive ongoing treatment.

Wilkinson and Robinson joined their colleagues at Heathrow en route to Dublin, although England stress both Catt and Strettle have flown as "precautionary cover". Wilkinson missed Newcastle's Guinness Premiership defeat at Bristol last Sunday due to what the Falcons termed "bumps, bruises and strains". His Newcastle colleague Toby Flood stands by to replace him, while the 35-year-old Catt also finds himself back in the mix.

The London Irish back, capped 67 times, has not played for England since the second Test against Australia in Melbourne last summer. His last appearance against Ireland was in 2001, when England blew their Grand Slam hopes at Lansdowne Road. Flood, 21, has not yet started a Test match, but the prospect of running out with England in front of an 83,000 Croke Park crowd is something he must now consider.

The loss of both Wilkinson and Robinson would represent a colossal double blow for Ashton following the victories over Scotland and Italy, in which Wilkinson scored 42 of England's championship points so far this season.

While England fretted over the fitness of two key players, Ireland confirmed scrum-half Peter Stringer's recovery from a broken hand that means he reclaims his place in the starting XV.