With Billy Vunipola and Nathan Hughes both sidelined due to injury, the Bath No 8 could force his way into the starting line-up in Rome, but Jones warned the 20-year-old that he still has plenty of work to do.
There might be a stage during the Six Nations where we bring him back in.
The England head coach said: "He's a good young player but he's got a lot of work to do on his game.
"He's done a hell of a lot in the period that we've picked him from November to now. He's got to continue working hard.
"He's got some nice natural skills that allows him to be selected in the first place. Now it's a matter of his hard work, his attitude, his willingness to do the things that hurt."
"I don't think we'll see Billy"
Image:Jones expects Billy Vunipola to miss the entire Six Nations
Jones is without 13 players due to injury and suspension and he expects Vunipola to miss the entire Six Nations, while Hughes could return halfway through the tournament.
The Australian also plans to experiment with Jack Nowell at outside centre, having listed him in his squad as an inside back.
"We know we've got JJ [Jonathan Joseph] and Henry Slade there, Ben Te'o is another option, but we'd like to look at Nowell at 13," he said.
Image:Manu Tuilagi is looking sharper every week, says Jones
There was no place for another centre, Manu Tuilagi, in Jones' squad but he says the Leicester Tiger could feature at some stage during the Six Nations.
"I'd like to see him get fit, Leicester would like to see him get fit and that's what we're hoping is going to happen," said Jones.
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"If he does that then he has a chance to get selected.
"He's looking sharper every week. He's had a long time out of the game and needs to find that sharpness because when he moves up to international level the requirement for that is even stronger.
"His attitude has been first class. There might be a stage during the Six Nations where we bring him back in."
Image:England trailed at half-time against Italy in last year's Six Nations before registering a 36-15 win
England, who are bidding to win a third successive Six Nations title, have never lost a Test match against Italy but Jones has been impressed with their progression under coaches Conor O'Shea and Brendan Venter.
"They're a well-coached side, O'Shea and Venter have done a good job," said Jones. "They played much better rugby in November and have discovered some good new talent.
"They've still got their iconic players in Sergio Parisse and Canna, their young No 10, has been playing some good rugby.
"If you look at their last game against South Africa, at the 20-minute mark they were 7-6 down and they had South Africa under pressure. They weren't able to sustain that but again they're having more control over their players so I would think that for the Six Nations they're going to be fitter, which has traditionally been one of their problems.
