Johnno - Great to have Cueto back

Johnson: recall for Cueto

He is playing very well and it is great to get him back into the squad.

Martin Johnson
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England manager Martin Johnson has welcomed Sale winger Mark Cueto back into the squad ahead of the RBS Six Nations.

The Sharks back - who has not played for his country since the 2007 World Cup final due to a dip in form and injury problems - is one of five form-related call-ups to Johnson's 32-man squad.

Johnson told Sky Sports News: "Mark has had a lot of serious injury problems the last year or so. I spoke to him last summer and he said he wants to get fit and get back into form and that is all guys can do and he has done that. He is playing very well and it is great to get him back into the squad."

Gloucester centre Mike Tindall is also back in the squad after impressing for the Guinness Premiership high-flyers.

Of his team-mate in the 2003 World Cup final, Johnson added: "Mike Tindall is another guy who has been around a long, long time with England and again has hit real good form with Gloucester so it is great to get him back in.

"They are both experienced people, good characters and good to have in the squad."

Uncapped Northampton utility back Ben Foden is also called up and Johnson sees the new man as a possible game-breaker. "He has got huge ability, he is an instinctive player, a very good athlete.

"He's got pace and strength and causes teams problems and that is what you need. It is difficult to break teams down and guys that can do that are great to have in the team... he is an exciting player."

Johnson also gave his backing to skipper Steve Borthwick, who has come in for some criticism following England's defeats to the southern hemisphere trio in the autumn.

"Steve is our captain going forward," Johnson said. "He got a lot of criticism and a lot of it was totally unfair.

"He did a very, very good job, a great job in fact under difficult circumstances and people don't see that, people see the results and that is what you get judged on as a player."

England get their Six Nations campaign under way against Italy at Twickenham on February 7.