Itoje set to return for Six Nations

Editor

England second-row Maro Itoje is expected to be fit for his team's Six Nations opener, against Italy in Rome, according to his club.

Saracens have revealed that the versatile forward, who recently required surgery on a fractured jaw, is likely to return in time for February 4.

It had been feared that Itoje would miss the start of the Championship but a visit to a specialist has reduced his time away from the game.

"Maro is probably three or four weeks away. He went to see the specialist who said a maximum of six weeks and he's already done a week and a half," Saracens director of rugby Mark McCall said in a boost to Eddie Jones' side.