Crowther's future at risk after surgery

The career of Hull's goal-kicking winger, Matt Crowther, is under threat following his triple fracture of the leg in the draw at Castleford on Monday.

Crowther marked his 29th birthday yesterday by having surgery on the broken tibia, fibula and ankle that he suffered as he twisted his leg in a tackle.

"He certainly won't play again this year and it will be a long, arduous rehabilitation," Hull's coach, Shaun McRae, said. "Short of a neck injury, it's one of the most serious things you can get."

Crowther has had unenviable luck with injuries and had just returned after a calf problem that kept him out for seven weeks. There must now be serious doubt about his ability to recover from his latest setback, which leaves his club's resources more stretched than ever.

McRae does not expect any of his absentees to be back for Sunday's game against Huddersfield, but has ruled out the possibility of bringing the club's former winger, Gareth Raynor, back on another short-term loan from Leicester.

Raynor played – and scored two tries – against Halifax last month. "But it was made pretty clear to us that it was a one-off arrangement," McRae said.

Ian Millward says he will have both his hookers, Keiron Cunningham and Mick Higham, in his side to face Wakefield on Friday. "It should be an exciting night for the fans, because I reckon they are the best two hookers in the UK at the moment," he said.

Cunningham made a surprise first appearance of the season at Halifax last Friday, when Higham was ill, but he believes there is room for both of them in Saints' squad.

"Mickey and me are close," Cunningham said. "We spend a lot of time together in training and are learning from each other all the time. He has been in great form this season and is getting stronger every week. He'll definitely go on to be a Great Britain player."

Cunningham admitted he faced an uncertain future after badly dislocating his elbow in the first Test against New Zealand last November. He said: "It was touch and go at first, but after about a month when the specialist looked at it again he was really impressed with the way it had healed and that was the turning point really.

"It was just tremendous to be back. When Ian came to me on Friday morning last week and offered me the chance to play, I just jumped at it.

"I'd been through some frustrating times in the past few months. It's certainly the longest time I've been out with an injury and there were a lot of pent-up emotions there when I got out on to the field. I think some of that came out in the first bust I made.

"But I was pleased with the way my arm held up to the contact and I haven't felt any reaction since the game either."