Pre-season signing Jack Ashworth could make his Castleford Tigers comeback this weekend after the club were hit by a spate of pack injuries.
Forwards George Hirst, Brock Greacen and Tyler Dupree have all been ruled out of Saturday’s game at Leigh Leopards following failed head injury assessments during the 48-6 loss to Castleford Tigers six days earlier.
Castleford also have doubts over hooker Liam Hood (neck injury) and outside-back Darnell McIntosh (groin) for the trip to Leigh Sports Village.
Ashworth has played only five times for Tigers since joining them from Hull FC and moved to Championship outfit Doncaster on a month’s loan two weeks ago.
“That’s the reason he has been playing there, to get some regular rugby league under his belt and some match fitness,” Tigers coach Ryan Carr stated.
“He will be in contention. He has shown a great attitude, worked really hard at training.
“He went and played a few games for Doncaster and did a great job there.
“He competed really hard for them and he has been doing everything he can that he can control, which I am pleased with.”
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Castleford Tigers forward set for possible long-term stand-downs
Dupree could return from his concussion stand-down when Castleford play host to Leeds Rhinos a week on Sunday, but the others face a longer spell on the sidelines.
“For George and Brock it’s their second HIA in a month,” Carr said.
“They have got to go through a head specialist and all that.”
Of Hood and McIntosh, Carr added: “We are still assessing them. They pulled up pretty sore, both of them, so they are in doubt.”
Though Hood was cleared to return at Magic Weekend, Carr stressed Tigers won’t be taking any chances with the veteran hooker’s health.
He vowed: “There’s injuries in rugby league you can push through and some I don’t ever try to go past that line, like heads and necks and backs, stuff like that. We have got to do the best thing by the player.”
