Jones 'cautiously optimistic' over Farrell
England coach Eddie Jones is "cautiously optimistic" Owen Farrell will be fit for the Six Nations opener against Ireland, despite needing surgery to fix a thumb injury.
Farrell - who this week was named England's captain with Dylan Hartley ruled out for the start of the tournament with a knee issue - sat out Saracens' European Champions Cup fixture with Glasgow Warriors.
Director of rugby Mark McCall confirmed to BT Sports that the fly-half required "a simple procedure" at the base of his thumb and his recovery could take up to 10 days.
While the timeframe is tight with the Ireland game on 2 February, Jones is upbeat over the influential 27 year-old's chances of featuring at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin.
"I came from Saracens, they had a good win," Jones said. "We're cautiously optimistic, he should be alright."
Jones and his players head for Portugal for a training camp before the Australian names his 25-man squad on 31 January to face Ireland three days later.
