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Lyne called up as Hull hope youth can add to Reds' pain

Dave Hadfield
Saturday 27 March 2010 01:00 GMT
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Hull, whose recruitment for this season has been more obviously based on older players, could field their youngest-ever pair of Super League wingers at Salford today.

With Tom Briscoe – just turned 20 – established on the left flank, their coach, Richard Agar, could give 17-year-old Reece Lyne his debut on the right this afternoon.

The academy international played in two pre-season friendlies and has been in prolific form for the Under-20s this season. His chance comes because of a hamstring injury to Mark Calderwood, although Craig Hall is also competing for the right-wing position.

Definitely out is the stand-off Richard Horne, who has not yet fully recovered from a rib injury. That will mean a return to The Willows in the starting line-up for Jordan Turner, who joined Hull from Salford this winter.

Salford have insisted that a meeting this week between their coach, Shaun McRae, and their chairman, John Wilkinson, was merely routine, but their dismal form, with just one win out of the last seven fixtures, is becoming a major concern.

They could have Willie Talau back after a thigh injury, but Jeremy Smith is still suspended. "We need to regroup," McRae said. "We've got to start better and, hopefully, implement our game plan."

Agar has promised that there will be no complacency from his side as they travel to Salford. While Hull are riding high with five wins from their first seven matches, the Reds have won just once so far this season.

"You underestimate anyone at your peril," he said. "I am not going to say Salford are in great form but they have shown some decent performances. They were close in the matches with Bradford and Leeds and they got a win a couple of weeks ago.

"I went to watch them last week and by their standards the first half will have been a disappointment to them and you know this week, at their home ground, in front of a TV audience, they will have enough reasons to put that right this week."

Thomas Bosc, so badly missed by the Catalan Dragons this season, is back in their squad for today's visit by Hull KR. The Catalans' captain has missed the early weeks of the season with an ankle injury.

The Dragons have struggled in his absence; like Salford, they have just one win this season. Rovers have left Chaz I'Anson and Liam Watts at home, but Matt Cook has travelled to France.

The Rugby League has reiterated to the Government its opposition to the delisting of the Challenge Cup final as one of the events that must be shown on terrestrial television.

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