Shane Geraghty has been ruled out of England's Six Nations clash with France, but team-mate Paul Hodgson could feature after an impressive display against Leicester.

Geraghty was forced off during London Irish's 22-13 Guinness Premiership victory over Leicester on Sunday with a knee injury, and withdrew from the England squad on Monday.

The highly-rated Exiles back left England's training base and returned to his club for further examintation on the injury.

"Following a clinical assessment by the England medical team on Sunday night and Monday morning it was clear that Shane could not be considered for the Six Nations game against France on Saturday," London Irish said in a statement on their website.

"Shane will have an MRI scan and a further update will be issued in due course."

Geraghty (pictured) was tipped to make the match 22 as England look to repeat their World Cup semi-final victory over Les Bleus at the Stade de France.

England head coach Brian Ashton is due to announce his starting line-up on Tuesday, with changes expected following the uninspiring 23-19 victory over Italy last time out.

Scrum-half is one area for debate, with an out-of-form Andy Gomarsall unlikely to retain the number nine shirt, losing it to either Richard Wigglesworth or an uncapped Hodgson.

Hodgson was instrumental in Irish preventing Leicester from climbing to the Premiership summit.

Exiles rugby director Brian Smith said: "There are three blokes currently in the running and, for me, 'Dodger' has jumped ahead of one of them.

"There has been some question marks about the other scrum-halves' form, and if Brian Ashton saw his performance (against Leicester), it was courageous.

"When you go to France you are going to need people to front-up, and I think he's played himself into the England 22.

"Paul Hodgson is not being thrown into anything. He has played more than 100 first-class games and, arguably, half the Premiership games are more intense than half the Six Nations games.

"He is very well-matured and he's got more experience than one of the scrum-halves there, and a lot more legs than the other bloke. I think he deserves his chance."

Terence O'Rorke / Eurosport