LONDON: England full-back Mike Brown is expected to be available to face Scotland in his side's penultimate Six Nations encounter after a concussion, head coach Stuart Lancaster revealed on Wednesday.
Brown was knocked unconscious during England's 47-17 win over Italy on Valentine's Day and missed last weekend's 19-9 loss to Ireland after receiving two setbacks during the return-to-play protocols.
But the 29-year-old Harlequins man is due to resume full-contact training on Thursday, clearing the way for him to be passed fit for the home game with Scotland on March 14.
"We're pretty confident about Mike," Lancaster told a press conference. "He's had a reasonable amount of time now and certainly all the signs from everyone, including from Mike himself, is that he's back to 100 percent.
"He has to tick the final box and then I'm sure he'll be training on Friday. He has been symptom-free since last week."
Alex Goode stood in for Brown in England's defeat in Dublin and was outjumped in the build-up to the Robbie Henshaw try that was to prove the match's pivotal moment.
But Lancaster said that Goode, who will line up for Saracens against Wasps this weekend, was still in contention to hold on to his place for the match with Scotland.
"Both Mike and Alex will compete for that 15 shirt next week," Lancaster said. "There was a lot of work that came Alex's way and he did well. I'm keeping an open mind until next week."
Inside-centre Luther Burrell is currently sidelined with a calf injury, but Lancaster declared himself "reasonably optimistic" that the Northampton player will be able to return to training next week.
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