The three have all received rave reviews for their eye catching performances in recent weeks, and Geraghty and Foden are both delighted to have received the call-up.

"I'm delighted to be called up," Geraghty said. "I was in the Saxons at the start of the season and I'm happy to be in the squad again. Hopefully I can be involved. My form's been improving each game. I'm happy with my form, am enjoying my rugby here at Northampton and am in the position where I've been able to push for England honours.

"There has been contact with the England coaches, which has been good. It makes no difference to me if they watch me live, although it is nice when they come down to Franklin's Gardens.

"The message from the coaching staff at the club has been to focus on the rugby. It's been quite nice to be out of the media spotlight and focus on the rugby, because if you play well people talk more about you than if you talk about it yourself. It's been good to have Jim, Dorian and Paul backing me and the other people in the England frame and credit to them for doing that, and hopefully I can reward them on the pitch with Northampton and then with England."

"I'm over the moon and happy to be back in the mix," Foden commented. "I got a taste of it last year and wanted more and hopefully I can get a starting spot for England. The England coaches always phone after a game and give us their feedback as to what I can improve on, especially the basic skills of playing full back.

"You are always disappointed to be involved and then demoted the next season. But you've got to keep your sprits up, play well for your club and get noticed. You have to back yourself and I think I'm ready to play international rugby. The way the international system is set up it is about waiting for an opportunity, so all I can do is keep performing well for Northampton.

"Jim, Paul and Dorian are really supportive and they want us to develop us as players and they've given me good advice."

Director of rugby Jim Mallinder said that the call-ups were reward for the players' focus on their own performances thus far this season.

"The players who have been called up have earned their selection with some improving performances over the past few weeks," he said. "They have concentrated on their rugby at Northampton and their form has got them noticed by the England management."

ENGLAND SENIOR EPS SQUAD
FORWARDS
Steffon Armitage (London Irish)
*David Barnes (Bath Rugby)
Duncan Bell (Bath Rugby)
*Richard Blaze (Leicester Tigers)
Steve Borthwick (Saracens, CAPTAIN)
George Chuter (Leicester Tigers)
Jordan Crane (Leicester Tigers)
Tom Croft (Leicester Tigers)
Louis Deacon (Leicester Tigers)
Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints)
James Haskell (Stade Francais)
Ben Kay (Leicester Tigers)
*Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints)
Lewis Moody (Leicester Tigers)
Tim Payne (London Wasps)
Steve Thompson (CA Brive)
David Wilson (Bath Rugby)
Joe Worsley (London Wasps)

BACKS
Matt Banahan (Bath Rugby)
Danny Care (Harlequins)
Mark Cueto (Sale Sharks)
Ben Foden (Northampton Saints)
Shane Geraghty (Northampton Saints)
Andy Goode (CA Brive)
Dan Hipkiss (Leicester Tigers)
Paul Hodgson (London Irish)
Ugo Monye (Harlequins)
David Strettle (Harlequins)
Mathew Tait (Sale Sharks)
Mike Tindall (Gloucester Rugby)
Richard Wigglesworth (Sale Sharks)
Jonny Wilkinson (Toulon)

*Uncapped player