Dan Cole ready to step in if David Wilson is ruled out of England's Six Nations opener

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Dan Cole could make his first Test appearance in more than a year after David Wilson emerged as England’s latest in a long line of injury concerns ahead of Friday night’s Six Nations opener against Wales.

The Leicester tight-head prop - who has not played at all in the past month after picking up a foot injury and has played just eight games in a year following neck surgery which saw him miss last year’s Six Nations – had been earmarked for a place on the bench with Wilson set to start following an impressive autumn.

But Wilson has a pinched nerve in his neck and is not expected to train in the next 48 hours and Cole, 27, is standing by to win his 46th cap if the Bath man becomes the 11th Englishman to be ruled out of the Test through injury.

Dan Cole could return to England's bench to answer an injury crisis ahead of the Six Nations

David Wilson (centre) is a doubt for England's opener after suffering a pinched nerve in his neck

Henry Thomas has been called into the squad as cover for his Bath team-mate Wilson, while Exeter’s exciting 21-year-old three-quarter Henry Slade also joined Lancaster’s men at Pennyhill Park as cover for Kyle Eastmond (shoulder) after impressing for the Saxons on Friday night.

There was good news of sorts as England confirmed neither Eastmond nor flanker Tom Wood (ankle) will require surgery, but England’s injury crisis remains critical.

Thomas’s call up indicates the level of concern over Wilson’s neck problem while Slade’s addition is an overdue recognition of his outstanding club form this season and a 13-point haul for the Saxons against the Irish Wolfhounds in Cork on Friday night.

‘We are hoping that David’s injury will settle down but we need to consider our options at tight head over the next few days and Henry’s form deserves consideration,’ said Lancaster.

‘Kyle’s scan showed that he does not need surgery but he is not back training so we have the option to bring Henry in on the back of a good performance out in Cork.

‘Tom also does not require an operation so he is being treated in camp for his ankle injury and is making good progress. He should come into consideration over the next week or so.’

Henry Slade (left) has been called up after impressing for England Saxons against Ireland Wolfhounds

Wilson's Bath team-mate Henry Thomas has also been called up to provide cover

Sam Burgess has been training with England Saxons but has been ruled out of starting against Wales

Rugby-league convert Sam Burgess – who produced an unconvincing display for the Saxons on Friday – has also been called into the squad for two days, although England insiders are keen to stress there is no prospect of him being selected to face Wales.

‘Sam will just come into camp for two days to further his rugby experience before returning to Bath on Monday evening to get more game time with the club over the next few weeks,’ Lancaster added.

Danny Cipriani looks set to take a place on the bench after impressing in training

‘He is still learning the game and this is an opportunity to help his development.’

Lancaster’s squad has been decimated by injury, with five players already ruled out of the Six Nations and five more first-choice starters out of Friday’s clash, making Wednesday’s team announcement one of the most difficult to call in recent times.

Sale fly half Danny Cipriani is understood to have impressed during training and could be in line for a bench spot ahead of Stephen Myler while Lancaster is believed to be giving serious consideration to picking Saracens’ in-form scrum half Richard Wigglesworth ahead of Ben Youngs and Danny Care.

Saracens lock George Kruis is set to start alongside Dave Attwood, despite not playing a game in three weeks following suspension, while fit again British Lion Alex Corbisiero is vying with Joe Marler for the loosehead prop spot.

Midfield remains Lancaster’s biggest headache with first-choice starts Manu Tuilagi (groin) and Brad Barritt (knee) on the sick list and Luther Burrell (concussion) also a doubt.

Jonathan Joseph appears certain to start at outside centre as reward for an outstanding season with Bath with out-of-form Gloucester centre Billy Twelvetrees in contention for the No12 shirt if Burrell fails to recover.

Mike Brown will start at full back with Jonny May on the left wing and Jack Nowell and Anthony Watson battling it out for the right wing berth.

Lancaster will name his starting XV on Wednesday.

Wales, by contrast, have no injury concerns after a spokesman confirmed Jonathan Davies’ tight hamstring should was not thought to be serious enough to threaten his participation.