Immanuel Feyi-Waboso hands England injury boost as Fin Smith faces fitness wait

Immanuel Feyi-Waboso has returned to training following scans, boosting England’s hopes of having the Exeter winger available for next month’s Nations Championship matches.

The 23-year-old could face Harlequins on Saturday after missing Exeter’s past two games. His progress offers encouragement for Steve Borthwick as England await clarity over fly-half Fin Smith’s calf injury.

Immanuel Feyi-Waboso could return against Harlequins

Feyi-Waboso limped off during the second half of Exeter’s win over Newcastle earlier this month but has resumed training after further scans over the weekend.

Exeter director of rugby Rob Baxter remains hopeful the winger will be available on Saturday.

“He’s an international quality player, it’d be fantastic to have him available, so let’s cross fingers and hope that things keep progressing at the rate they are,” Baxter told BBC Sport (via AOL).

England’s medical team will have the final say on his return because he holds an enhanced playing contract, Baxter previously told RugbyPass.

Feyi-Waboso missed this year’s Six Nations with a hamstring injury but played in all three of England’s summer Nations Championship matches, scoring against Fiji and Argentina.

Fin Smith remains with England for rehabilitation

Smith has been withdrawn from training after suffering a calf injury during Northampton’s defeat at Leicester on Saturday, part of a Premiership weekend that also saw Harlequins beat Saracens and Gloucester stay top.

The fly-half remains with England for rehabilitation, with Gloucester’s Charlie Atkinson replacing him in the training squad. An update on the severity of Smith’s injury had been expected on Tuesday, according to the Press Association.

Smith started all three of England’s July Tests. George Ford and Marcus Smith are the other fly-half options in Borthwick’s England training squad.

England begin their November programme against Australia at Allianz Stadium on Sunday 8 November, before facing Japan and New Zealand. Joe Marchant has also returned to the squad following his move from Stade Francais to Sale.

Baxter offers reassurance over Tom Hooper

Like Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, Exeter team-mate Tom Hooper received encouraging news on Australia forward Tom Hooper, who injured his shoulder during Saturday’s defeat at Bristol.

Hooper had previously fractured his scapula over the summer. Baxter described the latest problem as “a hard bang on that fracture site” but said there had been “no catastrophic injury”.

Immanuel Feyi-Waboso injury: your questions answered