Sheffield Eagles will be without long-serving forward Duane Straugheir for a prolonged period after discovering he has a fractured eye socket.
It was believed that the second-row was the victim of a concussion picked up during Sheffield’s Challenge Cup defeat to Wakefield last month, however further tests have revealed he has suffered a more serious injury, which will require surgery.
He will miss a number of weeks as he recovers from the setback, which might force Eagles chief Mark Aston to move into the transfer market.
“Duane is going to have an operation on his eye socket, so he is going to be out for a number of weeks,” Aston said.
“We need some players in who will add to the group. This group has not been easy.
“Hopefully we can fetch a fresh face or two into the environment before the game with Workington.
“As I have said before, competition for places is key for me. I am not here to be easy. I am competitive and I want to win. I know that competition will keep the lads firmly on their toes. We need people in who can tread on some toes here and come into the group and say ‘Hey, I want your shirt’.
“We need to get that competitiveness because that brings the best out of people.”