YORK City Knights half-back Scott Rhodes has been called into the initial Scotland squad for rugby league's forthcoming European Nations Cup.

However, the 23-year-old might not be able to don the shirt as he is thought to be six to eight weeks away from fitness following the recurrence of a knee injury in the Knights' play-off defeat to Barrow.

Scotland - who will be coached by Glasgow-born Workington boss Billy McGinty as fellow ex-GB international Mike Gregory has ongoing commitments with Wigan - play Ireland on Sunday, October 26 in the opening fixture of the inaugural competition in Glasgow.

They also play France in Narbonne on November 9, with a potential final at Warrington on November 16 if they top their three-team group. This all leaves Rhodes, who last played for Scotland in the 2000 Rugby League World Cup, a tight schedule to get match fit.

He had a exploratory surgery last week but was still awaiting the specialist's full report on the damage.

Knights chief executive Steve Ferres said: "It's an honour for the player and for the club to have an representative in international rugby.

"However, Scott has concerns regarding his knee injury and he's quite a way off fitness."

Scotland squad: Danny Arnold (Salford), Joe Berry (Batley), Jamie Bloem (Huddersfield), Jamie Bunyan (Rochdale), John Duffy (Leigh), Nathan Graham (Featherstone), Barry Edgar (Glasgow Bulls), Andrew Henderson (Barrow), Bryan Hendry (Clyde Buccaneers), James Houston (Featherstone), Jack Howieson (Sheffield), Lee Kiddie, Simon Knox (both Whitehaven), Dave McConnell (Chorley), Ryan McDonald (Widnes), Wayne McDonald (Leeds), Matthew McGuire (Hull), Spencer Miller (Whitehaven), Iain Morrison (Huddersfield), Lee Penny (Warrington), Scott Rhodes (Knights), Darren Shaw (Oldham), Jamie Smith (Barrow), PJ Solomon (Doncaster), Jamie Stenhouse (Chorley), Matt Tunstall (Workington), Oliver Wilkes (Keighley).

Updated: 11:32 Monday, September 29, 2003