Saracens director of rugby Mark McCall has backed Maro Itoje's England claim ahead of this afternoon's World Cup training squad announcement.

England head coach Stuart Lancaster will name a 50-strong training party at midday as the Red Rose prepare for the Rugby World Cup, due to kick off in England on September 18.

Itoje, 20, is tipped to continue a superb season by making the cut.

The flanker/lock has won the Junior World Championship with England Under-20s as captain, skippered Saracens Storm to 'A' League and LV=Cup glory and recently committed his long-term future to the club by signing a new deal.

And speaking to BBC 5Live, McCall backed his young talent to make the step-up into the senior side.

He said: "It will do him all the good in the world. 

"Once the English coaches get him in camp they will realise just what kind of animal he is, and how bright he is," McCall added.

"He's got a lot to learn and a long way to go of course and there's massive improvement in him.

"But he's good already, and he will relish that kind of environment and training with those kind of players."

Lancaster's final 31-man squad is set to be confirmed on August 31, with their World Cup campaign starting against Fiji on 18 September at Twickenham.