Chessum has not started for England since he played in the back row during the defeat by France on the final day of last year's Six Nations.

Borthwick has rewarded the Leicester Tigers forward with a starting berth against the Scots following his tireless performance from the bench against Les Bleus earlier this month.

Chessum was also influential in shoring up the line-out, from which England were able to launch an attack which ended with Elliot Daly's match-winning try.

The 24-year-old has endured a torrid time on the sidelines - he was first ruled out of England's summer tour of Japan and New Zealand after shoulder surgery before sustaining a knee injury in the autumn.

Borthwick, who coached Chessum at Leicester before taking charge of England, says the forward's return has boosted the rest of his squad.

"Very early on when I was at Leicester Tigers, he [Chessum] was identified by all the coaches as a guy who was going to grow into a big leadership role," said Borthwick.

"Earlier this season he captained Leicester Tigers for the first time and, from every report I received, did it really well.

"He's grown into a line-out leader and caller which wasn't something he'd done previously. He's applying himself diligently to do that.

"All that points to a guy who wants to improve himself. He has the respect of everybody. He's had a couple of injury setbacks and worked incredibly diligently to get back.

"When he walked back into the squad you could see how happy everyone else was. He has a presence and a positivity about him that rubs off on everyone else."

Meanwhile, former England wing Chris Ashton says Chessum's versatility is a useful tool for Borthwick's side.

"[Chessum] is like an Allen key, he just sorts everything out," Ashton told BBC Rugby Union Daily.

"That ruck needs clearing - 'I'll sort that.' He needs an inside carry - 'I'll get on that.'

"Line-out jump? 'Yeah I'll do that.' Kick-chase? 'I'll go back and get that.'

"He does things that people don't even notice but you need these people that make the team tick by the amount of work he does."