England's Will Joseph during a training session at the RFU’s performance centre at Pennyhill Park, Bagshot  © John Walton/Press Association

Will Joseph has been backed to shine for England against Japan this weekend after leaving teammates, including entertainer-in-chief Henry Pollock, open-mouthed in training.

Joseph, the younger brother of former England international Jonathan, made his debut four years ago under Eddie Jones in England’s summer tour of Australia, coming on for the final two minutes of the second Test.

It has been a roundabout journey for the 24-year-old since then, with his club London Irish folding, before moves to Harlequins and now Gloucester. But Joseph looks ready to make his Test return against Japan in Saturday’s Nations Championship match, after England suffered a number of injuries in last weekend’s 45-22 rout of Australia.

Immanuel Feyi-Waboso hobbled off at half-time, while fellow backs Seb Atkinson and George Furbank sustained knocks and now face a race against time to make it back for the All Blacks game on November 21.

That has opened the door to some of the squad’s fringe players, and Joseph — who, like his brother, can play centre or wing — has impressed everyone in training at Pennyhill Park.

“He’s one of those players that, you’ll be on their team, or you’ll be against them, and you’ll actually be left like, a bit mouth-open, with some of the stuff he can do,” Alex Coles said on Tuesday, adding that even Pollock was left applauding after failing to stop Joseph in training.

“He’s a proper talent. I can’t remember who it was because I was sort of slowly getting up from a ruck on the other side of the pitch, but he rounded someone on the wing [in training], like stepped them, rounded them in like five metres of space, and Pollock, who was on the defensive side against him, celebrated his try because it was that good...”

Coles was brought into the squad at the same time under Jones and said Joseph, who lost all hearing in his left ear in 2024 because of an autoimmune condition, made an impression even then.

“Obviously, he’s had a bit of a tricky time with injuries, and having to move sides. It’s so good seeing him tearing it up for Gloucester, and he’s a class guy.”

Japan head coach and former England supremo Eddie Jones gave Will Joseph his Test debut against Australia four years ago  © David Davies/Press Association

Steve Borthwick names his team on Thursday, but Kevin Sinfield, England’s assistant coach, would have no qualms about Joseph being in the starting XV.

“One hundred per cent,” Sinfield said when asked if Joseph was ready to start a Test. “What a player he is. I’ve been really impressed with him in training. There are some young guys who have massively put their hands up over a period of time.

“Having only worked with Will for a little while, he’s made a huge mark on everybody. He beats people. He’s got great balance. He’s a good defender with unbelievable power and speed off the mark. He’s a good jackaller, he breaks the line. Do you want me to go on…? He’s going to be some player.

“I’m a big fan. He’s a special player. Some of the bits he’s done in training have been ‘wow’ moments. He can play.”

Sinfield added that England needed to carefully manage Tom Curry and Feyi-Waboso, both of whom have been ruled out for the remainder of the Nations Championship, if they are to make next year’s World Cup.

Curry, who has built up a huge amount of wear and tear by the age of 28, aggravated a hip injury in training, while Feyi-Waboso, whom Sinfield described as this England team’s Jason Robinson, hurt his ankle in an illegal tackle by a 130kg Australia prop.