McGuire favourite to replace injured Eastmond for England

LEEDS RHINOS' Danny McGuire is in line to start for England against France next week after St Helens scrum-half Kyle Eastmond was ruled out for up to a month with ankle ligament damage.

By The Newsroom

Published 2nd Jun 2010, 12:39 BST

Eastmond, 20, was yesterday named in new England head coach Steve McNamara's 19-man squad for the game at Leigh on Saturday week but scans have since revealed the severity of an injury suffered during Saints' 32-12 Challenge Cup quarter-final win over Barrow last weekend.

The injury to the player - second only to Wigan's Pat Richards in the scoring charts with 13 tries and 69 goals so far this season - strengthens Hull's chances of completing a significant Engage Super League double over high-flying Saints who they face at KC Stadium on Friday night.

McGuire, meanwhile, was dropped for the last two games of last year's Four Nations, including the final, after the emergence of Eastmond.

But he has been showing signs of his best form recently, including a hat-trick display against Bradford Bulls ten days ago, and was also named in McNamara's squad.

The 27-year-old is likely to partner Wigan's Sam Tomkins.