France coach Bobbie Goulding has ruled out Catalans Dragons duo Dimitri Pelo and Jamal Fakir from his team to play England in Paris on Saturday week.

Winger Pelo (ankle) and second-rower Fakir (knee) were both injured in the Dragons' 32-28 home defeat by St Helens last month and will not recover in time to play at Stade Jean Bouin.

Goulding, who is taking charge of the French for the first time, is confident he can find an adequate replacement for Fakir but admits he is short of international-class backs, with Australians holding key positions in the Catalans outside back-line.

"It's a big blow," he said. "I was going to name Pelo at full-back. There are not many outside backs in France.

"The forwards are fine - I think we can compete with anyone up front.

"I really think David Ferriol is one of the best props in the world, Olivier Elima is having his best season ever, Jerome Guisset keeps coming every single year and Kane Bentley can be one of best hookers around."

Goulding's options will increase in time for the end-of-season Four Nations tournament when the Dragons' Australian quartet of Clint Greenshields, Adam Mogg, Casey McGuire and Jason Croker all become eligible to represent France under the three-year residency rule.

Goulding is adamant that he will not follow the example of his predecessor, John Monie, who included four Australia-born players - Justin Murphy, Jared Taylor, John Wilson and James Wynne - in his World Cup squad but admits that full-back Greenshields may be an exception.

"It's time now to produce French kids," he said. "It's no good picking Australians who would not get in the State of Origin team. After a disastrous World Cup, it's time to bite the bullet.

"There could be one or two exceptions but they would have to be absolute quality and would certainly have to play Super League."

Goulding will wait to name his team to face England until after the Catalans' game against Leeds on Saturday.

The majority of his line-up will come from the Dragons and Toulouse, who have a re-arranged Championship game at Gateshead on Sunday.

The French go into camp on Monday, when Goulding will announce his team.