Shane Geraghty's hopes of playing for England in the Six Nations match with France could be dashed by injury, but team-mate Paul Hodgson could feature after an impressive display against Leicester.

The London Irish back went off before half-time during his club's 22-13 Guinness Premiership victory over Leicester.

Irish assistant coach Toby Booth said: "He has hyper-extended his knee.

"The swelling continued through the match, and it got to the stage where it wasn't worth the risk.

"There was an element of precaution."

Fitness permitting, the highly-rated Geraghty (pictured) could be involved in Paris, where England must repeat last October's World Cup semi-final victory over France to keep their Six Nations campaign alive.

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 not expected 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, and 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."

SportingLife / Eurosport