Wigan Warriors winger Liam Marshall is in contention for a full England debut after being called into the matchday squad for Saturday’s second Test against Samoa at Headingley.
Marshall, 28, helped Wigan complete an unprecedented quadruple and was Super League’s leading try-scorer last term. He comes in for Sydney Roosters star Dom Young, who injured his hand in the 34-18 victory over the Pacific islanders last Sunday.
His Wigan team-mate Luke Thompson returns from suspension to replace Huddersfield Giants prop Tom Burgess, while Junior Nsemba, the other uncapped player called up for the series, is also included in the 19-man group.
“I’ve had to make a few changes to my 19 from last weekend’s victory and that is why having a strong squad is so important,” said head coach Shaun Wane.
“I’m confident with the lads I have had to bring in. Our goal was always to win this series 2-0 and we have put ourselves in the position to achieve that on Saturday.
“We know Samoa will be better but so will we.”
Marshall, who scored 27 Super League tries last season, previously appeared for England against Fiji in a warm-up match for the 2022 Rugby League World Cup but the fixture was not given full international status.
Following the first Test, Wane warned his players that their performance would not have troubled world champions Australia.
And while he has modified his view slightly after reviewing the match, he insists that his team will need to step up a gear for Saturday’s contest, which is part of a international double header – with England’s women facing Wales earlier in the day (12:00 GMT).
“In the heat of the moment, it’s very hard to see a lot of detail, but now I’ve watched it back, I’m happy,” Wane told BBC Radio 5 Live.
“We played better than I thought. But I do think honestly that we need to improve again.
“They’ve got smart coaches and they’re going to put us under a lot of pressure. They’re going to see places where we’re going to be weak and we just need to improve.”
England matchday squad to face Samoa: Matty Ashton (Warrington Wolves), John Bateman (Wests Tigers), Daryl Clark (St Helens), Ben Currie (Warrington Wolves), Ethan Havard (Wigan Warriors), Herbie Farnworth (Dolphins), Kai Pearce-Paul (Newcastle Knights), Morgan Knowles (St Helens), Matty Lees (St Helens), Mikey Lewis (Hull KR), Liam Marshall (Wigan Warriors), Mike McMeeken (Catalans Dragons), Harry Newman (Leeds Rhinos), Junior Nsemba (Wigan Warriors), Victor Radley (Sydney Roosters), Harry Smith (Wigan Warriors), Luke Thompson (Wigan Warriors), Jack Welsby (St Helens), George Williams (Warrington Wolves).