Dylan Hartley a doubt for England's Six Nations clash with France

Captain Dylan Hartley is a doubt for England's Six Nations clash with France in Paris on Saturday with a leg muscle injury, says forwards coach Steve Borthwick.

Borthwick also confirmed Jack Nowell and Sam Underhill will miss the match, with ankle and toe injuries respectively.

Hartley will be monitored on a daily basis ahead of the announcement of the starting line-up on Thursday.

However, winger Nowell has been ruled out of the Stade de France clash and is also likely to miss England's final match of the tournament against Ireland on Saturday week. Replacement tighthead prop Harry Williams is struggling with a neck injury and is another doubt for the weekend.

"Dylan and Harry will be monitored on a daily basis and we'll see how that progresses," Borthwick said. "Dylan trained yesterday (Monday) and felt a bit of tightness afterwards.

"Luke Cowan-Dickie was called up to the squad yesterday and trained fully this morning as cover. We have the two hookers in Dylan and Jamie (George) and we need the third hooker as cover.

"And Kyle Sinckler is here as a tighthead prop as well, as those are specialist positions, so you need specialist cover.

"Jack Nowell rolled his ankle in training, the same ankle that he injured earlier on this season. He has returned to Exeter. It happened at the weekend and we did a further investigation late yesterday and a decision was made then.

"Sam took a knock to his big toe after someone trod on it. It's flared up, so he's not in contention against France. He went back to his club this morning and that decision was made late last night as well, after an investigation.

"We want them to recover from their injuries as quickly as possible. It's unlikely that Jack will be fit for Ireland, but we hope Sam's injury will calm down quickly."

England's James Haskell told Sky Sports that the team will not be short of leadership, even if Hartley is ruled out.

"I don't think it is a worry," said Haskell. "We plan for these things all the time.

"Dylan is fantastic but Owen Farrell has been brilliant in terms of his leadership, as is George Ford, as is Maro Itoje.

"All the guys come together really and do a very good job on this. "Dylan is always going to be a loss if he doesn't make it but I wouldn't count the chickens before they are hatched yet."

Underhill's place on the bench is likely to be filled by Haskell while Elliot Daly, who has recovered from ankle and calf problem, may plug the gap created by Nowell's injury.