Wasps flanker Joe Worsley is effectively out of the Calcutta Cup clash against Scotland at Murrayfield on Saturday, joining a long casualty list.

Worsley suffered a hamstring twinge during the 50-9 victory over Italy two days ago and has been rated very doubtful by Woodward to make his starting line-up, which will be announced on Wednesday.

Sale Sharks forward Alex Sanderson, who won the last of his five caps against World Cup warm-up opponents France in Marseille last summer, has joined the England squad at their Surrey training base.

Woodward must decide whether to hand the 24-year-old a first RBS 6 Nations start if, as expected, Worsley is ruled out or call up Sandersons Sharks colleague Chris Jones.

Jones made a try-scoring debut as a replacement in Rome but he could now feature at number eight, with captain Lawrence Dallaglio moving to blindside flanker.

Jones said: The last week or so has been fantastic - a dream come true. There has been lots of hard work and things to learn.

If I was to start against Scotland it would be amazing. But I wont look too far ahead. If I am on the bench I would still be ecstatic.

Being involved with England is a fantastic way to improve my game, and it is very good when these people give you tips and pull you to one side to give you a pat on the back.

Both Dallaglio, who took a blow on his hand in Rome, and centre Jason Robinson (finger) are not rated as fitness concerns - and scrum-half Andy Gomarsall is confident he will shake off a minor thigh strain.

Before the tournament started last weekend, Woodward found himself without the services of Jonny Wilkinson, Charlie Hodgson, Mike Tindall, Stuart Abbott, Mike Catt, James Simpson-Daniel, Julian White and Lewis Moody.

Joe Worsley is the only real doubt for the weekend, said Woodward.

It is not serious - just a slight twinge to his hamstring - which is why we brought him straight off.

But injuries are part of the game - you have got to accept them. You cannot play players who are injured and you have to use all the possible resources you can.

The players are all very battered and tired after the game in Rome. It was a very tough game and it is a case of getting everyone fresh for Saturday and not overdoing it.

We have got to look at the video and look at a lot of things, but that is about it before we travel.

My job this week is just to make sure we arrive fresh for the weekend. Six days, with all that travelling, is not the ideal time to prepare - but we have just to get it right, he added.

Were we to lose Joe Worsley that would be almost an acceptable loss rate after the very physical battering we took against Italy at the weekend.

The Sunday game did help us in one respect. It allowed us an extra couple of days training, but having to play on the following Saturday is tough. There wont be many changes at all, and thats what I planned.

Gomarsall hopes to train on Wednesday before the England squad head for Edinburgh.

I feel definite in my mind that I will be fit for Saturday, said the Gloucester scrum-half.

England lock Ben Kay, meanwhile, has no doubt that the Six Nations champions will be targeting a considerable improvement on their Rome performance when they arrive north of the border.

We operate in a very critical environment. When we win we are more critical of ourselves than when we lose, and thats what takes us forward, said the Leicester forward.

Ive been surprised how over-hyped the press have made our performance in Rome. I dont think we performed as well as anyone in the press said we did, and the scoreline didnt really reflect the tightness of the game.

It was some pretty inspirational bits of individual brilliance that made the scoreline as large as it was. It was just frustrating - when you know how we can play.

England have won 13 of their last 14 Tests against Scotland, though, and it would be a major upset if the Scots regained the Calcutta Cup for the first time since 2000.