Fielden out until Easter

Wigan have suffered an early season set-back with the news that Stuart Fielden will be out of action for another month with a fresh injury.

The Great Britain prop, who had operations on his feet and shoulders over the close season, was due to return for last Friday’s game against Castleford.

A bicep strain in training put paid to that plan and it could now be Easter before he begins his season.

“Stuart has damage to his bicep, which is nothing whatever to do with the shoulder problem he had before,” said the Wigan chairman, Ian Lenagan. “He will need a further three to four weeks to recover.”

Warrington’s traditional injury problems have also kicked in with confirmation that Chris Bridge ruptured his Achilles tendon in the defeat by St Helens on Friday.

He will have surgery on Thursday, but the fear is that he could be out for the season.

Meanwhile, two of his team-mates, Matt King and Michael Monaghan, will spend much of this week in a hyperbaric chamber in a bid to be fit to play Hull KR on Sunday.

Monaghan played against Saints despite a hamstring strain, while King tore his calf during the game.

Salford have lost a second member of their squad, with the decision of the Australian centre, James Jiminez, to go home after failing to settle in this country.

The City Reds, who have already crossed off Damien Reid after he was jailed for assault, are now in the market for an import signing to fill the gap in their ranks.

After the glut of players called up for Rugby League disciplinary hearings last week, just one has been cited this week – Harlequins’ Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook, who has been charged with the least serious grade of careless high tackle.