Josh McGuire has been cleared to make his return from injury later this month after he was named in a strong Brisbane Broncos squad for the forthcoming World Club Series in England.

The Queensland Origin front-rower was set to make his comeback from his Achilles tendon strain last weekend, but a minor hamstring tweak put him on ice for Brisbane’s pre-season trial against North Queensland in Bundaberg.

But McGuire has proved his fitness and been given the all clear to return to the field for the first time since June last year, when he suffered the season-ending injury against the Newcastle Knights.

That cost him the chance to make his first Origin appearance in Brisbane and his first NRL grand final.

The bolters in the Broncos’ 19-man squad for the tournament include Englishman Greg Eden, who has earned a trip back home after scoring two tries against the Cowboys in the Nines and is in the mix for a spot on the wing, as well as hooker Travis Waddell, forward Herman Ese’ese and outside back Tom Opacic.

Halfback Ben Hunt, meanwhile, misses out as he serves his one-game suspension for a dangerous throw on Kane Linnett in last year’s grand final.

The only other Broncos missing from the grand final squad are the retired Justin Hodges, the injured Jack Reed and the departed Mitchell Dodds.

Brisbane face the Wigan Warriors on Saturday, February 20 at the DW Stadium in Wigan.

Brisbane Broncos: Adam Blair, Darius Boyd, Greg Eden, Herman Ese’ese, Matt Gillett, Alex Glenn, Jordan Kahu, Andrew McCullough, Josh McGuire, Anthony Milford, Kodi Nikorima, Corey Oates, Joe Ofahengaue, Tom Opacic, Corey Parker, James Roberts, Sam Thaiday, Travis Waddell, Jarrod Wallace.