Six Nations: Stuart McInally to see specialist, plus updates on Jamie Ritchie, Duhan van der Merwe, Ben Toolis injuries

Stuart McInally is awaiting an appointment with a specialist to determine the seriousness of the neck injury which threatens to rule him out of the start of the Six Nations.

Stuart McInally injured his neck in the gym doing bench presses ahead of Edinburgh's game with Glasgow. Picture: Ian MacNicol/Getty Images

Gregor Townsend will name his squad at lunchtime today, with Scotland’s first match scheduled to take place at Twickenham against England on February 6.

The Scotland coach is already without the services of first-choice hooker Fraser Brown who is recovering from his own neck problems and could miss the entire tournament.

McInally strained his neck last week while doing bench presses ahead of Edinburgh’s match against Glasgow Warriors.

He is one of a number of Scotland players in the Edinburgh ranks nursing injuries.

Flanker Jamie Ritchie and winger Duhan van der Merwe missed the Glasgow game with head and knee knocks, respectively.

Ben Toolis was named in the team for Scotstoun but pulled out on the morning of the match after aggravating a toe injury.

The chances of any of the latter three being fit for Edinburgh’s match against Zebre in Italy on Saturday remain “up in the air” according to Duncan Hodge, the club’s attack coach who has ruled out McInally.

“We’ll have to wait and see,” said Hodge. “Jamie’s still going through concussion protocols, Duhan has struggled a bit with his knee so hopefully he might be fit, and Ben is about the same. They’re all up in the air just now.

“We’re hoping Duhan might be all right for the weekend.”

The better news for Edinburgh is that Damien Hoyland is close to a return. The winger has been missing since injuring his ankle training with Scotland ahead of the autumn Tests.

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