Scotland call in reinforcements

Scotland blindside flank Alasdair Strokosch will see a specialist surgeon on Tuesday to decide if he can play any further part in this year’s Six Nations Championship.

Strokosch had to retire injured early in Saturday’s Calcutta Cup match, won 38-18 by England, at Twickenham.

Scotland team doctor James Robson said: “It would seem he has a fractured orbit [area around the eye] but, as ever with such collision-type injuries, they can take time to settle.

“He will be examined by Mr Martin Paley, a maxillary facial specialist at Spire Murrayfield Hospital on Tuesday, to determine the extent of the injury and any recovery schedule.”

In addition to Strokosch, a number of other Scotland forwards will require medical assessment over the next few days. Hooker Dougie Hall (knee) and back row forwards David Denton (knee) and Johnnie Beattie (ankle) will be under the care of physiotherapists Paul McGinley and Stephen Mutch.

The Scotland squad reassemble in Edinburgh on Sunday tonight. At this stage, with medical evaluation still ongoing with the Scotland A squad, 13 players will be added to the 23 who were on matchday duty on Saturday.

Hooker Pat MacArthur, back row Robert Harley and fullback Peter Murchie (all Glasgow Warriors) together with Edinburgh lock Grant Gilchrist had all travelled with the main party to Twickenham.

Peter Horne, the Glasgow Warriors centre, will return to camp having been ruled out of the England game due to a thumb injury.

Eight players are promoted from the Scotland A squad following their 13-9 win over England Saxons at Newcastle on Friday – namely props Jon Welsh (Glasgow Warriors) and Alasdair Dickinson (Sale Sharks), hooker Steve Lawrie (Edinburgh), back row Richie Vernon (Sale Sharks), scrumhalf Sean Kennedy (Glasgow Warriors), flyhalf Tom Heathcote (Bath) and wings Nikki Walker (Worcester Warriors) and Duncan Taylor (Saracens).