WORCESTER Warriors' Chris Pennell has been called up to England's training squad as specialist full-back cover.

Harlequins' Mike Brown is still recovering from concussion and appears increasingly unlikely to play in England's pivotal RBS 6 Nations clash with Ireland on Sunday.

Saracens' Alex Goode, who won the last of his 16 caps as a replacement against Wales 12 months ago, is on standby to start at full-back at the Aviva Stadium with Worcester-born Pennell, 27, also in the squad as specialist cover in the position.

Brown felt a recurrence of his symptoms last Friday after being knocked unconscious in the 47-17 victory over Italy and, having completed a weekend of rest, has restarted the return to play protocols.

The earliest he will be able to resume contact training is Friday when head coach Stuart Lancaster announces his starting XV for the Dublin showdown between the championship's only remaining unbeaten teams.

It leaves Brown with a race against time to prove his fitness knowing any further flare-up in symptoms will force him to start the protocols again and rule him out of contention.