With Lee Jones having been officially ruled out of Saturday's match against Italy as a result of the severe concussion he suffered during Scotland's defeat by Ireland, three players have been called into the squad to provide additional cover.

For 24-year-olds Alex Grove, the Worcester Warriors centre who has three caps, and Jack Cuthbert, the Bath full-back who won his solitary cap to date against Ireland in the World Cup warm-up match last August, it is a chance to kick- start their international careers while Peter Murchie, the 26-year-old Glasgow Warrior who can play those both positions, has yet to be capped.

That suggests some cause for concern over the condition of Stuart Hogg, who has shoulder and groin problems and Max Evans, who has a calf injury, albeit they, like Mike Blair, who also picked up a shoulder knock and John Barclay who has rib damage, were deemed to be fit enough to do some training yesterday.

Nick De Luca, the Edinburgh centre who pulled out of the Ireland match with a hamstring problem, was also described as "making progress."

Jones' injury was by far the most alarming since he was clearly unconscious before he hit the ground which his head then struck extremely hard after a clash of heads with Andrew Trimble, but he has now been allowed to return home to Selkirk. "He is doing well," said James Robson, Scotland's team doctor. "He will have a few days' rest and recovery and will be assessed later in the week."

The team to meet Italy will be named today.