Pregnant pause adds to England problems

WHILE England coach Steve McNamara may have known about the absence of one of his Four Nations stars yesterday, the news of another's omission will have come as a significant blow.

Warrington centre Chris Bridge revealed he had already spoken with the international chief about his desire to remain at home next month rather than head out on the tour of Australia and New Zealand due to the expected birth of his first child.

However, the confirmation that Leeds' Danny McGuire will also now be missing for the tournament Down Under left McNamara with a worrying concern.

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Already looking for a new captain following the wreckage to Jamie Peacock's knee last month, he has now seen one of his most potent attacking weapons sidelined as well with a replica injury.

Although the Rhinos stand-off may have fallen down the pecking order behind tyros Sam Tomkins and Kyle Eastmond last year, his sparkling form in 2010 suggested he could have re-emerged as a crucial part of England's plans this autumn.

Certainly, when trying to break the often formidable defence of Australia, let alone New Zealand, a player of McGuire's undoubted flair is worth his weight in gold.

That is especially so considering McNamara is still sweating on the fitness of St Helens scrum-half Eastmond, who aggravated a hip injury recently and missed their play-off win over Warrington with fears he could be out for a longer spell.

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Bridge, too, although only recently returned from a shoulder injury, showed enough in the mid-season friendly against France and with his early Super League form to suggest he could be one of the more dynamic of McNamara's options further wide.

In McGuire's absence, McNamara may ordinarily have turned to St Helens stand-off Leon Pryce as a potential replacement but he, too, is unavailable, his stellar form ruined by a neck injury in July which now requires surgery.

England's opening game is against New Zealand on October 23 and the coach will be praying nothing happens to Tomkins between now and then, although he will be strengthened in the knowledge hardly anyone can currently lay a finger on the mesmeric Wigan star given his outstanding running skills and powers of evasion.

The irony is, of course, that Tomkins's club are presently employing the deceptive stand-off as a raiding full-back with some eye-opening results.

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McNamara may not have that luxury next month, although Huddersfield's Kevin Brown has already shown he can step in at No 6 if required while the footballing skills of Melbourne Storm's exciting full-back Gareth Widdop will certainly be more prevalent.

McNamara will not be taking Tongan international Willie Manu with him, however, after the RFL announced yesterday only Kirk Yeaman and Tom Briscoe have been called up from Hull FC to his fall-out squad.

Airlie Birds team-mate Manu, 30, was a controversial inclusion in McNamara's 37-strong squad for the mid-season get-together in July given he was born and raised in Sydney, played for the Junior Kiwis and then Tonga in the last World Cup.

He qualifies for England on residency grounds and was considered by the England chief but will not now be among the 24-man touring party.

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Briscoe and Yeaman were the ones called up for training ahead of the trip to New Zealand and Australia and the benefit match against Cumbria at Whitehaven on Sunday, October 3.

They join players from Bradford, Harlequins, Castleford and Salford and take McNamara's squad to 13 so far, with hopefuls from Wigan, St Helens, Warrington, Leeds, Huddersfield and Hull KR to discover their fate once their club commitments are over.

Bridge, meanwhile, does not wish to be considered for selection.

The 26-year-old is expecting a baby girl in November with partner Kirsten McCourt and has put his international duty on hold in order to concentrate on being a first-time father.

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"We are expecting our first child in early November and we are very excited," said Bridge.

"I spoke with (Warrington coach) Tony (Smith) and to Steve Mac as soon as I realised there was a chance I would miss it and I decided that even if I was picked, I would not go. It is my choice and Steve said it would not affect my chances in the coming years. Family comes first and I want to be there for the birth."