Six Nations: David Denton gets all-clear but Joe Ansbro ruled out of Calcutta Cup

But there will be no place in Andy Robinson’s Scotland team for centre Joe Ansbro, who has been released from the squad because of a back injury.

Zimbabwe-born Denton, who will celebrate his 22nd birthday on Sunday, had been a doubt for the Calcutta Cup match because of a hamstring strain.

The problem caused him to miss Edinburgh’s Heineken Cup victory against London Irish, who were without Ansbro because of the same injury which has ruled him out of the weekend’s game. Yesterday, however, a statement from Murrayfield confirmed that, although Ansbro had failed a fitness test, Denton had passed. He now has a good chance of starting his first international, his only previous appearance having come as a replacement during last year’s World Cup warm-up game against Ireland.

“Denton has recovered from injury and will train with the Scotland squad at Murrayfield today as they step up preparations for Saturday’s RBS Six Nations Championship opener against England,” a statement from the SRU said yesterday, just before training began. Scotland lead physiotherapist Paul McGinley then explained why Ansbro had not made it.

“Joe came into our camp in St Andrews last week affected by a back injury which will need a longer period of rehabilitation,” McGinley said.

“This will be undertaken at his club and he will be re-assessed following the England game.”

Sale Sharks prop Alasdair Dickinson has also been ruled out of Saturday’s match, because of an injury which he picked up playing for his club against Brive in the Amlin Challenge Cup earlier this month.

“Alasdair was unable to train with the squad today as he is still recovering from the shoulder injury,” McGinley added.

“We are returning him to continue his recovery with his club and we will reassess his situation after the England game.”

Scotland have already lost back-row forward Kelly Brown to injury, while stand-off Ruraidh Jackson’s involvement has been in doubt because of hamstring trouble. Even if the Glasgow No 10 is passed fit, his lack of rugby over the past few weeks has been a concern for Robinson, and he may only come into consideration for the Wales game on Sunday week.

There was better news yesterday, however, over several other players who had been rated doubtful last week. World Cup captain Al Kellock, for example, had been suffering from a respiratory tract infection, but the former captain was reported to be training without problem yesterday and is expected to be named among the replacements.

Prop Ed Kalman has got over the calf injury which was a concern when he reported to the Scotland camp at St Andrews last week, but he has now been passed fit for duty and trained with the A squad yesterday. It remains to be seen whether the loss of Dickinson will mean a promotion back to the senior squad for Kalman.

Scrum-half Rory Lawson, like Kellock a former Scotland captain, also trained yesterday with the A squad who will play their English counterparts on Friday night at Netherdale. In Lawson’s case, however, there seems little prospect of an immediate return to the senior team, as Chris Cusiter and Mike Blair are set to be the two scrum-halves in the 22, with Greig Lawson, who can cover for Nos 9 and 10, also in the running.

Rory Lamont and Nick de Luca were the other two doubts last week as a result of leg bruising and concussion respectively. Both backs have now been passed fit.

Saturday’s match is a 67,114-capacity sell out. Fewer than 5,000 tickets remain for Scotland’s only other home game of this year’s championship, against France on Sunday, 26 February.