England sweat on Grayson's fitness

Paul Grayson has given England a fitness scare in the build-up to Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations Championship clash against Wales.

The Northampton fly-half suffered a minor strain to his left calf muscle during training yesterday.

The England camp say that he is expected to be fit for Saturday’s Twickenham encounter, but Bath fly-half Olly Barkley is remaining with the squad.

Grayson has stepped into the number 10 role vacated by shoulder injury victim Jonny Wilkinson, and clocked up his 400th Test point during England’s defeat against Ireland 11 days ago.

He is the top points-scorer in this season’s championship with 43, which included a 20-point haul when England defeated Calcutta Cup rivals Scotland last month.

If Grayson does not recover in time for the Wales game, then England coach Clive Woodward could turn to either Barkley or his Bath colleague, 61 times-capped Mike Catt.

Barkley, capped three times as a replacement, has lost his seat on the England bench this week, with Catt recalled to England’s 22 by Woodward.

Catt’s season has been hampered by injury, but he is hugely-experienced in the Test arena and was a key member of England’s World Cup squad.

He made a telling contribution to the World Cup campaign by taking tactical control of England’s quarter-final against Wales in Brisbane after appearing as a half-time substitute.