Alasdair Strokosch's Scotland recall has given Dean Ryan a major back-row dilemma for Gloucester's Guinness Premiership clash with Sale this weekend.

The 25-year-old flanker has been drafted into the Scotland side for Saturday's RBS 6 Nations clash with France in Paris.

Added to Peter Buxton's imminent foot surgery, Akapusi Qera's continued recovery from a knee operation and Luke Narraway's call-up to the England bench for Saturday's clash with Wales, head coach Ryan's options are thin.

Gloucester host Sale on Saturday and are likely to have Apo Satala, Andy Hazell and Gareth Delve as their only fit senior back-rowers, with the latter two having only just returned from long-term injuries.

Ryan will also be without prop Alasdair Dickinson, who has been named at tighthead for Scotland against France, while another Gloucester prop – Carlos Nieto – is expected to be involved for Italy against Ireland.

England centre Mike Tindall is also on Test duty, while Italy lock Marco Bortolami is likely to feature against Ireland in Rome.

Scotland: H Southwell (Edinburgh); S Danielli (Ulster), M Evans (Glasgow), G Morrison (Glasgow), T Evans (Glasgow); P Godman (Edinburgh), M Blair (Edinburgh, capt); A Jacobsen (Edinburgh), R Ford (Edinburgh), A Dickinson (Gloucester), J White (Sale), J Hamilton (Edinburgh), A Strokosch (Gloucester), S Taylor (Stade Français), J Barclay (Glasgow). Reps: D Hall (Glasgow), M Low (Glasgow), K Brown (Glasgow), S Gray (Glasgow), C Cusiter (Perpignan), C Paterson (Edinburgh), N De Luca (Edinburgh).