Whitehaven-born Super League star Kyle Amor has been called up to a 31-man England Elite Performance Squad.

The St Helens packman has been included in coach Wayne Bennett's plans as part of England’s preparations ahead of this year’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

Bennett wants the squad to meet regularly throughout the season and six training sessions will be run by England assistant coaches Paul Anderson and Paul Sculthorpe, alongside head of human performance Richard Hunwicks.

And former Whitehaven prop Amor will head to the first of these on Monday, February 27.

Amor is currently uncapped for his country despite some strong performances for his club side.

And he just missed out on selection for Bennett's side for last year's Four Nations, despite being named in an initial larger squad.

Bennett will meet with the squad and Betfred Super League coaches mid-February to outline England’s World Cup plans and to review their 2016 Four Nations campaign.

Three sessions in the first phase for the EPS will build up to a mid-season Test against Samoa on Saturday, May 6 in Sydney – a squad for this game will be announced in April.

Following the Samoa Test, Bennett and England coaching staff will review performances of the EPS and other England-based qualified players to select a training squad in late May/early June for the second phase of the programme when the remaining three sessions start again on Monday, June 26.

On the national squad’s plans, head coach Wayne Bennett said: “What we have put in place for the players is a programme that will enable them to spend required time together in an international environment.

“Our selection includes a mixture of the England-based players from last year’s squad, returning names who have previously been in the programme and some new faces who have been performing in Super League.

“There’s a lot of talented and committed individuals in this group who are well aware that success in a World Cup tournament doesn’t come easy.

"Preparation is key and we need everyone to be fully focused throughout the year.”