Freddie Burns is set to start for England in the third and final Test against New Zealand after confirmation Owen Farrell will miss the game because of a strained knee. Farrell has a damaged medial ligament in his left knee but will remain with the squad for the remainder of the tour.

Burns played in the first Test in Auckland before giving way to Farrell for last weekend’s 28-27 loss in Dunedin. Billy Twelvetrees and Luther Burrell trained fully on Tuesday but Danny Care, who aggravated a shoulder knock in the second Test, remains a doubt.

England’s head coach, Stuart Lancaster, has yet to decide who will act as fly-half cover on the replacements’ bench now that Farrell is out of contention. “The knee has been scanned and there is a strain there,” reported Lancaster.

“It’s disappointing for Owen as he was desperate to play in the final Test but such is his character he is already working on his rehab and still contributing to the tour. Fortunately we have three other fly-halves to call on and we’ll make that selection call over the next few days.”