Ellis produced an eye-catching display for England Saxons last week against Portugal © Getty Images

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Matches: England 36 - 11 Italy

Players/Officials: Danny Care | Harry Ellis

Tournaments/Tours: Six Nations

Teams: England

Scrum-half Harry Ellis is relishing his return to England colours after being recalled to the international ranks for Saturday's clash with Italy at Twickenham.

The Leicester scrum-half was confirmed in the side to face Italy after Danny Care failed to recover from the strained ankle ligaments he suffered by slipping on ice at England's training base. Team manager Martin Johnson opted to parachute Ellis straight into the side for his first start since England's defeat to Wales in 2007 and keep Northampton's Ben Foden on the bench.

Ellis has not played a full match this year after serving a six-week suspension for his dangerous tackle on Perpignan fly-half Dan Carter in a Heineken Cup match. But he made his comeback for the Saxons in last weekend's 66-0 win over Portugal and insists he is ready to play.

"I am just really gagging for a game. I can't wait to get out there," said Ellis. "It has been a while since I started a game for England. My fitness is really good. We made the most of my six weeks off and I trained really hard pretty much every day over Christmas.

"I wanted to be playing and missed some crucial games for my club which was really disappointing but every cloud has a silver lining. I worked on my conditioning, mentally I am really fresh for this time of year and I can't wait to play a game of rugby.

"I got about 65 minutes for the Saxons last week. It was a really fast game, there was hardly any kicking and it was good for my match sharpness."

Ellis had established himself as England's first-choice scrum-half during the 2007 Six Nations before a ruptured knee ligament ruled him out of the World Cup and last year's championship.

"I was out for 10 months and I'm afraid it is part of sport. I was playing quite well back then and was really enjoying playing for my country and it was taken away," said Ellis. "But it has really made me appreciate playing rugby and appreciate how lucky I am to play. Now I am injury-free and making the most of the rest of my career."

It is somewhat fortunate for England that Care's injury brings together one of English rugby's most successful half-back partnerships in Ellis and Andy Goode.

The pair played together at Leicester for most of the last eight years, before Goode left Welford Road in the summer for Brive, and lined up at Twickenham together as recently as last May in the Guinness Premiership final.

"Goodey has been playing really well and it is nice to be back involved with him," said Ellis. "I have spent most of my career playing alongside him and hopefully we will click again and forge a new partnership together."

Ellis will face the unusual sight of Italy flanker Mauro Bergamasco as his opposite number on Saturday after the Azzurri lost their first three scrum-halves to injury. "This contest is tailor-made for Harry Ellis," said attack coach Brian Smith. "That is why we had no hesitation bringing him in. All the qualities he has as a scrum-half we are going to need at the weekend.

"We know it will be very tough and confrontational and he is the perfect man for the job."