Tom Johnstone looks set to make his long-awaited return from injury for Wakefield Trinity this Sunday, but team-mate George King is set to miss the start of the Super League season.
Johnstone ruptured knee ligaments last March, and subsequently missed the rest of the 2019 Super League season following the setback. It was the second time in just three years that Johnstone had suffered a serious knee injury.
Coach Chris Chester told League Express last month that they would not rush him back and would allow him as much time as possible before returning to playing. But it now looks as though he could feature in Sunday’s pre-season game with Hull Kingston Rovers.
Bill Tupou is also in the mix to return after a serious injury of his own, but the news on versatile forward King is not as good.
King was helped from the field during Trinity’s Boxing Day game with Leeds, and there were initial fears he had suffered a fracture to his ankle.
League Express revealed last week that there was no fracture upon further inspection. But King has suffered a syndesmosis injury to his ankle, which will ensure he misses the opening few weeks of the 2020 campaign.
Trinity officials have quoted an eight-week recovery period for King, though they are hopeful he will not need surgery.
However, it is an early injury setback for Chester and Wakefield before the new season has even kicked off.
