Sale playmaker Hodgson, 22, had been lined up as cover for Jonny Wilkinson but suffered knee damage in the RBS 6 Nations victory over Italy – ruling him out for the rest of the season.

Catt, who can also play at number 10, has been plagued by hamstring and back injuries and made only 14 appearances for Bath last season. He has not featured for England since November 2001.

“I still don’t think Charlie will make it,” said Woodward.

“Medical reports we have suggest he won’t be playing before September 8, which pretty much rules him out.

“I’m still talking to Mike Catt but I need to see him. I’m hoping to watch him play on August 16 in either the Middlesex Sevens or in a friendly for Bath.

“Charlie Hodgson is the only person who isn’t training with us at the moment who could potentially force his way into the squad. But both players’ chances are pretty slim.”

If Catt and Hodgson are ruled out competition for the reserve fly-half spot will intensify with Paul Grayson, Dave Walder and Alex King all in the frame - although Grayson’s goal-kicking prowess makes him favourite.

There is better news for Austin Healey, Lewis Moody and Julian White, all three likely to play some part in England’s World Cup warm-up matches against Wales and France.

Leicester team-mates Healey (Achilles) and Moody (shoulder) spent much of last season on the sidelines, while White – a summer signing for the Tigers – will be looking to nail down his spot in the front row after recovering from knee damage.

“Austin Healey has been training today and we expect him to play in one of the games. Lewis Moody will be playing in the Middlesex Sevens on August 15 so he will definitely be fit. I’m also hoping Julian White will take part,” said Woodward, speaking at England’s Bagshot training base.

England’s clash with Wales on August 23 at the Millennium Stadium and the two subsequent games against France are capped internationals even though Woodward has admitted he will not be fielding his Grand Slam-winning team in any of the three matches.

But the England boss makes no excuses for the games’ Test-match status, insisting the meetings will be full-blooded affairs to decide who fills in remaining gaps in his World Cup selection plans.

“It’s a full international. The games against Wales and France are critical to make sure that we get the right squad in place for the World Cup,” he said.

“Although we will not be at full strength, I know approximately the team I’ll be putting out – and that team has the ability to go head to head with any other international side in the world.

Woodward’s words are an ominous warning to Wales coach Steve Hansen whose side have lost their last four meetings with England and finished bottom of the 2003 6 Nations table.

But the Kiwi insists the only way Wales will improve is if they test themselves against the best – and Woodward’s crack England outfit are exactly that after recording away victories over New Zealand and Australia in June.

“It’s always nice to play the strongest side in the world and that’s what England are at the moment – they are ranked number one. We’re striving to improve and playing good sides will help to achieve that – we can learn from them.

“There’s a lot of tradition to Wales v England matches and it’s a big game, a tough fixture at any level. We’re going to pick 22 players and treat it as a real Test match,” added Hansen, who revealed 44,000 tickets have been sold for the match so far.”