The Leicester and Lions captain has been summoned to attend a Rugby Football Union disciplinary hearing in Bristol next Thursday.

Although he will lead England against Ireland at Twickenham this weekend, the spectre of a ban now hangs over him.

A three-man panel comprising specialist criminal lawyer Richard Smith QC, RFU senior vice-president Derek Morgan and RFU Council member Richard Moon will decide Johnson’s fate.

He was yellow-carded by referee Dave Pearson following a scuffle with Saracens hooker Robbie Russell during a Zurich Premiership game last Saturday.

But television footage then clearly showed Johnson punching Russell, leaving the Scottish international requiring six stitches to a cut beneath his left eye.

‘‘It will be for the panel to determine, after considering all the evidence presented to it, whether the award of a yellow card was sufficient penalty for Martin Johnson’s involvement in the incident or whether he is deserving of greater punishment, which they will be empowered to impose,’’ said RFU disciplinary officer Robert Horner.

The recommended average suspension for punching is three weeks, which should therefore sideline Johnson from action in Paris if the panel decide to ban him.

Phil Vickery will return to the England front-row on Saturday, meanwhile, admitting he was ‘‘very surprised’’ Clive Woodward handed him a Six Nations recall.

The Gloucester and Lions tighthead wins his 24th cap as England seek revenge for their Grand Slam-wrecking defeat by Ireland in Dublin just four months ago.

England boss Woodward admitted it was a close call between retaining Julian White or selecting fit-again Vickery, who missed the Calcutta Cup victory over Scotland earlier this month because of a hand injury.

And no-one was more surprised than the Gloucester captain, whose ball-carrying ability and ferocious tackling power has made him an integral member of England’s front-five unit.

It will be Vickery’s first game since January 12, when he helped Gloucester defeat Parker Pen European Shield opponents La Rochelle, another factor which could justifiably leave the consistent White feeling somewhat aggrieved.

But it has proved how important Woodward views Vickery as part of the overall England equation. He is, beyond doubt, a cornerstone in an outstanding red rose pack.

‘‘Clive has put his faith in me and there is pressure now to perform,’’ Vickery said.

‘‘It is a massive vote of confidence and I have to prove myself. Clive has obviously got confidence in me and now I just have to go out there and give it my best.

‘‘To be totally honest, I was very surprised to be selected. Clive called me on Sunday to ask if I would be all right for the weekend, but it was always his decision.’’

Vickery has suffered more than his fair share of injury problems during an international career that began four years ago this month on a worrying note against Wales.

Although England whipped the Welsh by racking up a record 60 points, Vickery’s debut ended in despair when he was cited for punching Wales flanker Colin Charvis.

It resulted in a 30-day ban, yet Vickery was then cleared on appeal, freeing him to resume a promising career at the top level.

But injuries have continued to frustrate the 25-year-old, especially this season when knee trouble sidelined him for October’s Lansdowne Road trip, before a broken hand scotched his Murrayfield hopes.

Clearly, he is due an extended injury-free run, yet Vickery is looking no further ahead than Saturday’s Six Nations showdown between two potential title winners.

‘‘I think that Ireland are the form team in the Six Nations,’’ he said.

‘‘They are probably playing some of the best rugby in the northern hemisphere and are full of confidence.

‘‘It is a very difficult game for us, but we have to get the right result.

‘‘As a player, these are the games you really want to play in the Six Nations is a massive competition.’’