The 26-year-old had been in danger of losing his place in the starting XV after struggling to make the same impression he had in last year’s maiden RBS 6 Nations Championship.

Northampton’s Ben Foden had been earmarked to replace him for the Calcutta Cup match after an impact as a replacement during the 20-16 defeat to Ireland.

But London Irish star Armitage, who has shrugged off a rib injury picked up in that loss, has kept hold of the No.15 jersey and insists it’s high time he showed Johnson he deserves to keep his place in the team.

“It was a massive relief to be named,” said Armitage. “For me to get another shot to try and get back to the form I showed last year is a good opportunity.

“I expected to be dropped. Foden did a great job when he came on against Ireland and I've been trying to force things, trying to get back to where I was last season.

“I need to start showing something now and hopefully I can do that against Scotland at the weekend.

“I popped some rib cartilage and I was fearing the worst. But I trained yesterday and had a few hits on it and it went fine.

“If I didn’t feel 100 per cent I would have put my hand up. I don’t want to let myself or the team down by playing with an injury.