George Burgess is battling desperately to overcome a leg injury in time for England’s final Rugby League World Cup group game against Fiji in Hull on Saturday.
The 21-year-old South Sydney prop played less than a quarter of the match in England’s 42-0 win over Ireland on Saturday after taking a blow just below his right knee in the opening moments.
“It’s really swollen at the minute,” said Burgess, who played on for another 15 minutes before coming off.
“I’ll be working hard to get it right for next week and the rest of the tournament.
“I think it was my first carry so a bit of a nightmare there.
“I’ll definitely be trying to get it right for next week. I’ll ice it up and it should be alright.
“I’ve not missed a game yet this year through injury and I don’t intend to.”
Burgess was forced to watch from the sidelines as England cruised into a 30-0 lead after 23 minutes.
It was an emphatic way for Steve McNamara’s men to bounce back from their opening 28-20 defeat by Australia at the Millennium Stadium.
With older brother Sam set to return from a one-match suspension and George’s twin Tom likely to keep his spot, there is the prospect of three brothers playing alongside each other at the KC Stadium, where Tariq, Korbin and Ashton Sims are expected to once more line up for Fiji.
McNamara is confident that prop James Graham, who made his first appearance of the tournament from the bench, will shake off a knee injury and his biggest selection dilemma could come on the right wing, where Tom Briscoe made the most of his opportunity after being surprisingly chosen ahead of Josh Charnley.
Graham was missing from the opening match against Australia amid reports of him, like Hock, breaking an alcohol ban.
When asked why he was omitted for the opening game, Canterbury Bulldogs’ former St Helens forward replied: “It’s not my thing to talk about selection policy. You’d have to ask the coach.”
McNamara cut short a press conference in Cardiff when continually quizzed over the non-selection of Graham.
At stake in Saturday’s match is the runners-up spot in group A and a possible quarter-final with France at Wigan on Saturday week.
