• Wood part of England plans for first time since World Cup • Alex Lozowski and Mike Haley also part of 33-man squad

This article is more than 3 years old

This article is more than 3 years old

Tom Wood has been recalled for England’s autumn series to make his first appearance in the national squad since being jettisoned following last year’s World Cup.

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Eddie Jones has turned to Wood to combat the injury crisis that has thinned his options at openside to sixth choice after James Haskell, Jack Clifford, Sam Jones, Mike Williams and Maro Itoje were ruled out through injury.

The 29-year-old won the last of 42 caps against Uruguay a year ago and his international career appeared to be over after he revealed in January that Jones had told him he was “distinctly average” and lacked the world-class work rate demanded of a blindside flanker.

He has been one of Northampton’s few shining lights amid their dismal start to the season, however, and now profits from the spate of injuries that has hit England.

Jones said: “With a number of influential players missing through injury we have two weeks to prepare a robust and resilient team to meet the challenges set for us.”

There are six uncapped players included in the 33-man squad: the prop Kyle Sinckler, the back-rower Nathan Hughes, the second-row Charlie Ewels, the full-back Mike Haley, the fly-half Alex Lozowski and the centre Ben Te’o.

Ewels is joined among the 33 by his Bath colleague Dave Attwood, who returns following injuries to the Saracens locks George Kruis and Maro Itoje. Teimana Harrison is included despite Jones last month stating he was unsuitable for the role of openside at this stage in his career and there are three No8s in Hughes, Ben Morgan and Billy Vunipola. Morgan’s Gloucester colleague Jonny May is also present following an injury-ravaged year.

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England depart on Sunday for a week-long training camp in Portugal and open their autumn series against South Africa on 12 November with Fiji, Argentina and Australia also visiting Twickenham.

“Our training camp in Portugal is a great opportunity to spend a week together, focus on putting our game plans in place and for new players to understand the England way,” Jones said. “We’re looking forward to being back in front of a passionate Twickenham crowd and I’m confident we can prepare well and put together a matchday 23 which is full of pride, energy and commitment to give South Africa the game of their lives.”

England’s 33-man squad for autumn internationals

Backs Mike Brown (Harlequins), Danny Care (Harlequins), Elliot Daly (Wasps), Owen Farrell (Saracens), George Ford (Bath), Alex Goode (Saracens), Mike Haley (Sale), Jonathan Joseph (Bath), Alex Lozowski (Saracens), Jonny May (Gloucester), Semesa Rokoduguni (Bath), Henry Slade (Exeter), Ben Te’o (Worcester), Marland Yarde (Harlequins), Ben Youngs (Leicester).

Forwards Dave Attwood (Bath), Dan Cole (Leicester), Charlie Ewels (Bath), Ellis Genge (Leicester), Jamie George (Saracens), Teimana Harrison (Northampton), Dylan Hartley (Northampton), Nathan Hughes (Wasps), Joe Launchbury (Wasps), Courtney Lawes (Northampton), Joe Marler (Harlequins), Ben Morgan (Gloucester), Chris Robshaw (Harlequins), Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins), Tommy Taylor (Wasps), Billy Vunipola (Saracens), Mako Vunipola (Saracens), Tom Wood (Northampton).