LONDON (Reuters) - Injury has forced Scotland centre Nick De Luca out of Saturday's Six Nations clash with England at Murrayfield, Scottish Rugby said on Monday.

De Luca sprained his right ankle while playing for Edinburgh in Friday's Magners League match against Newport Gwent Dragons.

"The injury is not as bad as first feared but Nick is unavailable for selection for this weekend and will continue his rehabilitation under the care of the Edinburgh medical staff," team doctor James Robson told the union's Web site (www.scottishrugby.org)

Scotland, bottom of the table with no points from three matches, also have concerns over lock forwards Nathan Hines and Scott MacLeod, both of whom missed training on Monday because of knee and shoulder injuries respectively.

As a precaution, experienced second row Scott Murray and Edinburgh lock Craig Hamilton have been called up to the squad.

(Reporting by Martyn Herman, editing by Padraic Halpin)