Charvis limped off during Newcastle's European Cup win over the Newport-Gwent Dragons at the weekend with a foot injury.

An initial scan revealed there was no fracture although the influential Charvis - Wales' player of the autumn series - is unlikely to play again before the February 5 clash.

Colin was examined last night by our medical team. The initial prognosis is that he should be available to us for the England match, said Ruddock, who unveiled his 31-man squad for the tournament on Wednesday.

Having said that, the advice we have received is he should not play club rugby before that game.

It is a soft tissue foot injury and he will have more treatment over the next few days.

Cardiff Blues prop John Yapp was the only uncapped player to be named in Ruddock's squad, the 21-year-old loosehead having impressed during Cardiff's recent European Cup matches.

There is also a recall for 21-cap Dragons lock Ian Gough after two years out in the international wilderness.

The rest of the squad is based around a core of players who performed so creditably during the four-Test autumn campaign, when Wales came agonisingly close to beating both South Africa and New Zealand.

All of Ruddock's Wales-based players will be available to him the weekend before the England match following an agreement with all four of the Welsh regions.

However, the Wales management have failed in their bid to secure the services of their French-based trio of skipper Gareth Thomas, Stephen Jones and second row Gareth Llewellyn.

All three are likely to figure for their clubs in the French championship that weekend, while Ruddock confirmed he is still in negotiations with English Premiership side Gloucester over when the hooker Mefin Davies will be released.

Things are looking very good in Wales. The regions are all buying into the fact that they would like us to prepare properly for the England game and we thank them for that, he said.

As things stand in France it looks like the players will be going back to play club rugby the week before we play the Test match.

Having said that, we have got a well-established training programme in place. All the French clubs have been notified of that programme and under IRB regulations they are duty bound to release those players to us for training purposes.

At the same time we are duty bound to release them for their matches.

Discussions are still ongoing and I am hopeful we may get a change of heart from France, but at this moment those players look as if they will be playing club rugby the weekend before we play England.

Ruddock has left one spot open in his squad following a thumb injury to Ospreys prop Duncan Jones.

Llanelli Scarlets loosehead Iestyn Thomas also has a neck problem and if he does not recover in time, another Ospreys prop, Paul James, will come in as cover.

It could mean Yapp being thrust into the 22 for the Millennium Stadium date with England.

Ruddock added: John has been very impressive. Apart from the obvious duties of a prop his work rate has been exceptional.

"Against Stade Francais in the European Cup he scored a great try, his tackle count was immense and his work rate huge.

Ian Gough is another who has stood up in Europe and I am more than happy to bring these two players into the squad.

Looking forward to the England match, Ruddock added: England are an impressive side no matter what, but to suggest that we are anything but underdogs against the world champions is more than ridiculous, it is 'cloud cuckoo land' stuff.

They are used to beating the best teams in the world and we have won just two Six Nations matches in the last two years, so we need to keep it all in perspective.