Bath duo Michael Lipman and Nick Abdendanon have been called into the England elite player squad ahead of the autumn internationals.

Flanker Lipman and full-back Abendanon have been called up by manager Martin Johnson in place of Leicester pair Lewis Moody and Tom Varndell.

Moody is recovering from surgery on his left hip and Achilles tendon. He joins fly-half Jonny Wilkinson on the sidelines, with Wilkinson ruled out after dislocating his knee in Newcastle's defeat at Gloucester earlier this month,

Wilkinson's absence paves the way for Danny Cipriani to return after he made his comeback from a fractured dislocation of an ankle ahead of schedule.

Johnson said: "Danny Cipriani has made a good recovery from his injury and returned earlier than expected.

"He's performed well since he came back and, while there was strong competition from other players, I have decided to give Danny the chance to compete for a place in the 22 for the Pacific Islands match on November 8.

"Michael Lipman was very unlucky not to make the original 32-man senior squad and he has been playing very well for his club this season.

"The England medical team and I will continue to liaise closely with Jonny and Lewis and their clubs, and I wish both of them a speedy recovery. Lewis is getting closer to playing for Leicester Tigers and I look forward to seeing him back in action soon.

"I'm disappointed for Tom Varndell, but he has not been selected by Leicester recently and we will monitor his form when he starts playing regularly again and competing for a place in the squad."

England face the Pacific Islands at Twickenham before Tests against Australia, South Africa and New Zealand.