Wakefield Trinity Daryl Powell hopes to have Tom Johnstone available as early as next week, the head coach has confirmed.
Johnstone hasn’t played yet this season after having minor surgery on a knee issue in the build up to the season. The winger’s absence has been felt so far, with Wakefield picking up just one win from their opening three Super League games and he won’t be involved this week against Hull FC, either.
However, Powell has outlined his hopes that Johnstone will be fit enough to take on Leeds Rhinos in the Challenge Cup next Friday and failing that, there’s the chance the winger could return in time to face Leigh Leopards in round five of Super League.
“In the next week or two,” Powell said on the fitness of Johnstone ahead of tomorrow’s clash with Hull. “I’m hoping he’ll be back next week but I’m not 100 per cent certain on that.
“If it’s not next week then it’ll be the week after. He’s not too far away.”
That comes as a boost to Wakefield, as does the fitness of Mason Lino, who has missed the last two weeks with a hamstring problem.
Lino is fit to play against the Black and Whites this week and Powell has a decision to make in the halves following the performances of Jack Sinfield in the role over the last two weeks.
Hooker Tyson Smoothy won’t play this week, though, after failing a HIA last week against Warrington Wolves and Powell admits he has made some changes to his team.
“I’ve made a couple of calls and I won’t tell you what they are at the moment but we’re trying to find our best game, our best performance and we don’t feel like we’ve got that yet,” Powell said. “We’re striving for that and some of that involves players coming into the team so we need to get our heads around where we are at the moment and tidy up a little bit. If we tidy up, we won’t be too far away.”
On his hooker spot options specifically, he added: “Jack can play nine, I wouldn’t put him out there for long but he can do it. Jazz [Tevaga] can do it for a period and Harvey [Smith] has got a good engine so we’ll see how the game goes. I’m confident in Harvey.
“Tyson, it is what is, he gets a direct shoulder to the head so that ends up being a tough one missing him this week. But you’re going to get that and Harvey has been poking his head through for a while now and whenever he plays, he does a great job. I’m confident in his ability.”
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