Flanagan waiting

MARK Flanagan will shortly find out if he has made it into the England squad for the upcoming Four Nations series.

The Oldhamer, a regular Chronicle columnist, has excelled in his first season playing for Wests Tigers in the NRL.

The 23-year-old formerly plied his trade with new Super League champions Wigan before deciding to chance his arm in Australia.

And though he missed out on selection for Tigers’ final two play-off games — injuries in the backs squeezed him down to 18th man on both occasions — Flanagan’s form in helping the team to within a whisker of a Grand Final appearance has brought the back row forward to the attention of England coach Steve McNamara.

A 24-man squad is named today, just as Flanagan arrives back on these shores following his stint in Sydney.

The three other English players in the NRL, Flanagan’s Tigers team-mate Gareth Ellis plus Sam Burgess and Gareth Widdop, are guaranteed places in the squad for a tournament which is being held in Australia and New Zealand.