Bosc forced out and adds to France's selection problems

While England coach Steve McNamara sweats on the fitness of Leeds Rhinos duo Danny McGuire and Kevin Sinfield, opposite number Bobbie Goulding has already seen his captain Thomas Bosc withdraw.

The Catalans Dragons scrum-half, France's most influential player, suffered a leg injury in the loss at Hull KR on Sunday and is replaced by Lezignan half-back Nicolas Munoz.

Winger Dimitri Pelo sustained a dead leg in the same match and is doubtful for the game at Leigh Sports Village.

France, who endured miserable luck with injuries ahead of last year's mid-season international which they lost 66-12 in Paris, had already seen fellow Catalans winger Cyril Stacul and Lezignan centre Michael Tribbilac pull out last week.

It is not only on the international front that McNamara has injury concerns.

His Bradford captain Andy Lynch will miss the next four games due to knee surgery while the club last night received confirmation young back-row James Donaldson will not play again until next season.

Lynch will have an operation today to repair damaged cartilage and McNamara said: "It's a measure of Andy's stature as a player and captain he has played through the pain barrier in recent weeks but the time has come for him to have the operation to be fully fit for the business end of the season."

Donaldson, 18, ruptured both his anterior cruciate and medial ligaments against Warrington nine days ago and will have his knee in a brace for six weeks before surgery which will leave him sidelined for a further six months.

Already under strength, Bradford could face more problems this evening with centre Michael Platt facing an RFL disciplinary committee for a dangerous tackle during Sunday's heavy defeat against Huddersfield while Castleford's Ryan McGoldrick is also charged with kicking out against Wigan.