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Scotland have recalled centre Sam Johnson and handed a first Six Nations start to winger Kyle Steyn for the game against Italy in Rome on Saturday.

Hamish Watson and Matt Fagerson are available again and return to the back row while Rory Darge retains his place.

Hooker George Turner is named in the starting XV and will line up between Zander Fagerson and Pierre Schoeman.

Edinburgh’s Ben Vellacott is named among the replacements instead of Ben White and the former Scotland Under-20s scrum-half is in line to make his debut.

Gloucester fly-half Adam Hastings could make his first appearance of the Six Nations after being included on the bench in place of Blair Kinghorn, who has been providing cover for Finn Russell.

Johnson started the game against England on the opening weekend of the Six Nations but was then dropped in favour of Tuipulotu for the matches in Cardiff and at home to Grand Slam-chasing France.

Fagerson returns from injury to start at number eight in place of Magnus Bradbury while flanker Watson effectively replaces Nick Haining after recovering from Covid.

They will form an intriguing back row with 22-year-old Darge, who switches from openside flanker to the blindside after his magnificent performance against France.

Scotland travel to Rome fourth in the table after an opening-weekend victory against England was followed by a defeat in Wales then at home to France.

More to follow.

Scotland team to face Italy: Hogg; Graham, Harris, Johnson, Steyn; Russell, Price; Schoeman, Turner, Z Fagerson; Skinner, Gilchrist; Watson, Darge, M Fagerson.

Replacements: McInally, Dell, Nel, Hodgson, Bradbury, Vellacott, Hastings, Tuipulotu.