LEIGH LEOPARDS star Bailey Hodgson has been hospitalised with an infection in his elbow.
The 23-year-old missed last weekend’s 24-18 win over Castleford Tigers due to illness, but there was further bad news for the ex-Newcastle Knights flyer with a hospital stay and subsequent operation following.
“Bailey Hodgson missed the game at the last minute last week because he had some infection in his elbow,” Leigh boss Adrian Lam confirmed.
“Since then he’s been admitted to hospital. He stayed overnight for a couple of nights and has had an operation on that because of some danger around the infection site, so not it’s good news for us.
“He’s certainly not going to play this week now and we don’t know how many weeks ahead he’s going to miss out.
“Obviously it’s not ideal but at least it’s not an injury, it’s not a long-term one. We’ve checked in on him and he’s doing okay as we speak.”
The infection has affected an area of previous treatment, with Lam not able to put a timescale on the outside back’s return.
“Definitely week by week,” he said.
“It’s unfortunate the way it’s come about really. It’s one of those ones where it’s got a cut on it and it’s infected an area that’s previously had some screws in it.
“We’re checking in with Bailey and making sure he is doing ok.”
Whilst the likes of Frankie Halton, Andy Badrock and Joe Ofahengaue are closing in on a return, the head coach doesn’t expect to make many changes for Saturday’s trip to Hull FC.
“Apart from Hodgson, the team won’t change too much from last week,” Lam explained.
“We’ve still got I think 12 or 13 players out now but there could be the possible selection of Frankie Halton – who is 50/50. We’re going to give him right up until kick-off to be ready.”
“There’s players like Andy Badrock that’s been out long term, Joe Ofahengaue will come into consideration.
“I think (Robbie) Mulhern might be two weeks and then Jacob Alick-Wiencke is two weeks as well. Everyone’s back within the next two or three weeks.”