Catalans Dragons have had a very difficult off-season with much of their squad absent for long periods on account of the World Cup, an inability to arrange friendlies and also an injury crisis which has now worsened.
The injury issues got to the point where the French side called up five of their reserve team to train with the Super League squad and news today has confirmed that could be the case for a while longer.
Fouad Yaha was one of the three huge injury problems and he was the only one that had not undergone surgery but it’s been determined now that he will require an operation and therefore will miss around five months.
The other two injured players were England stars, Sam Tomkins and Mike McMeeken, who had gone under the knife for knee and arm issues, something the club wanted to avoid with their all-time try scoring winger.
An MRI on Tuesday for his dislocated shoulder has revealed he needs surgery and could therefore miss “between four and five months”, per L’Independant in France.
The French publication are reporting that he will have an operation at the end of the month and the recovery time could see a return at the mid-point of the season, dependant on rehab.
L’Independant explained: “On Tuesday January 3, Fouad Yaha was hit in the shoulder during a tackle in the middle of the session. The 26-year-old player, top scorer in club history (100 tries including 89 in SL and 11 in the Cup) will have to undergo surgery in Montpellier on Monday 30 January.
“A stop operation, also with a damaged tendon which requires the greatest precaution. Fouad Yaha should only resume competition in June depending on his re-athletics (4 and 5 months without competition depending on the case). The winger of the XIII of France will therefore miss the first half of the exercise.”
That will be a huge blow for the French side who will be incredibly thankful they were able to acquire Wakefield’s Tom Johnstone for this upcoming season but Yaha will leave a 20 try void on their flank.
It’s still unclear how McMeeken and Tomkins are recovering but the first time we could possibly see them will be February 4th when the Dragons face a French select squad of youngsters, all picked from the French Elite One competition.
Leigh Leopards
Leigh Leopards and their problem position
