The 2003 World Cup winner, set to wear the armband in the absence of Lewis Moody, was dealt a serious blow to the thigh on Thursday which resulted in him jetting home for an MRI scan.

The 66-cap veteran came through unscathed and Johnson also confirmed that winger Chris Ashton, lock Simon Shaw and flanker Hendre Fourie have shrugged off fitness concerns.

He said: “Mike (Tindall) is fine and we’re hoping Hendre (Fourie) will be fit to play, too.

“He trained this morning and Chris Ashton is also fine.

“As for Simon, there was nothing wrong with him anyway. It's just that when you get to his age, there aren't that many good days!”

Johnson will unveil his team to face Wales on Wednesday and in the absence of Courtney Lawes, Tom Croft and Lewis Moody the selection of England’s loose forwards is proving the most difficult.

He said: “We know we must strike the right balance in the back five of the pack but we have good choices available to us.

“The people we've brought into the squad give us all the options we need."”