England Six Nations Campaign Boosted as Tom Wood and Danny Care Escape Serious Injury

England have received a timely Six Nations boost after Tom Wood and Danny Care were cleared of serious injury with just over two weeks to go until the start of the championship.

Flanker Wood has announced he is ready to play in Northampton's Heineken Cup clash at Castres on Friday while a scan has confirmed that Harlequins scrum half Care has escaped serious ankle damage.

The news is a major positive for England coach Stuart Lancaster whose side have been littered with injury in the lead up to the Six Nations.

Care, who twisted his ankle during Harlequins' defeat to Clermont on Friday, will miss the club's final Heineken Cup tie against Scarlets at the weekend but is expected to be fit to train with England next week.

Medical examinations revealed no structural damage when Wood took a heavy impact at Ospreys on Sunday which caused the muscles around his knee to freeze.

"I had the joint rattled a little bit, right outside on the bony bit and that can switch everything else off," said Wood.

"I was thinking 'Blimey, it won't work'. There was a moment or two of concern.

"The muscles had switched off but I wasn't falling over so the ligaments were there.

"There was some inflammation but it has settled. I was a bit lame for a while.

"They tested all the ligaments and bent it every which way. There was plenty of discomfort but plenty of tension there.

"I felt better today and had a run. As long as I don't have any major reaction to that I think I will be fine," he added.

England open their Six Nations campaign on 1 February when they take on France in Paris.