Alex Mitchell misses out as England name squad for Autumn Nations Series

England head coach Steve Borthwick has named squad for Autumn Nations Series with scrum-half Alex Mitchell ruled out due to a neck injury.

Despite the setback, there is hope that fly-half George Ford, who is undergoing rehabilitation for a groin injury, could still feature in the series.

Mitchell’s absence is a significant blow to England, as the Northampton Saints player has started seven of England’s eight Tests this year. He is one of eight players unavailable for selection due to injury, alongside his Northampton teammate Fraser Dingwall.

In his absence, head coach Steve Borthwick has called up Ben Spencer, Jack van Poortvliet, and Harry Randall as scrum-half options.

The squad of 36 players was announced on Wednesday morning, and while Ford is not named in the active roster, he will be part of the training camp in Girona next week, working on his recovery.

However, Borthwick has received a boost with the inclusion of centre Henry Slade. Slade, who has been dealing with a shoulder injury this season, is named in the squad, providing a reliable option in the backline for the upcoming matches.

The absence of key players like Mitchell presents challenges, but Borthwick remain optimistic about the contributions from their replacements and the potential return of Ford during the series.

“Naming this squad is an exciting step in our preparations for the Autumn Nations Series, and we look forward to working with the players again in the days ahead,” said Borthwick.

“Our focus is on thorough preparation and building cohesion as we approach what will be a fiercely competitive series.

“Facing New Zealand in the opening match is a tremendous opportunity for us to test ourselves against one of the best teams in the world.

“Having only played at Allianz Stadium twice in our last 15 games, it will be fantastic to return and play in front of our home crowd. The energy and passion of our supporters always give the players an extra boost.”

England’s Autumn campaign kicks off against New Zealand at Twickenham on November 2, followed by matches against Australia, South Africa, and Japan.

England’s 36-player squad:

Forwards: Fin Baxter, Ollie Chessum, Dan Cole, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Chandler Cunningham-South, Ben Curry, Tom Curry, Theo Dan, Trevor Davison, Alex Dombrandt, Ben Earl, Charlie Ewels, Ellis Genge, Jamie George, Nick Isiekwe, Maro Itoje, Joe Marler, George Martin, Will Stuart, Sam Underhill

Backs: Elliot Daly, Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, Tommy Freeman, George Furbank, Ollie Lawrence, Alex Lozowski, Luke Northmore, Harry Randall, Tom Roebuck, Henry Slade, Ollie Sleightholme, Fin Smith, Marcus Smith, Ben Spencer, Freddie Steward, Jack van Poortvliet

Rehabilitation: George Ford