LUKE Yates is likely to make his Warrington Wolves debut at St Helens on Friday – but he looks set to be the only new face available to Sam Burgess this week.
A deal to bring the Huddersfield Giants skipper to the club early was confirmed by The Wire on Monday evening, and the forward trained with his new teammates for the first time on Tuesday.
His arrival will boost a squad starting to suffer under the weight of injuries, with the likes of Lachlan Fitzgibbon, Josh Thewlis (both shoulder) and Toby King (hamstring) the newest short-term issues.
None of those players are expected to return for the trip to the Totally Wicked Stadium, while Jordy Crowther is rated as “touch and go” having aggravated the ankle injury he suffered during the Challenge Cup Final as he returned to the side against Leeds Rhinos on Thursday.
“We’re not expecting anybody back – that’s the reality of this time of year,” Burgess said.
“There’s a couple of guys that are close, but there won’t be anyone new coming back apart from Luke Yates.
“He’ll have to earn his way in like anyone else. He’s got to fight for his spot.”
On Crowther, he added: “He’s okay – he’s a bit ginger so I don’t know if he’s going to make it this week.
“There’s still a couple of days to go but I think it will be touch and go for him.”
Fitzgibbon and Thewlis are believed to be the closest players to returning, but Burgess says neither has yet rejoined full first-team training and hence he could not set a firm date for when they may be back.
“Those two are on different programmes to me at the moment and are with the medical staff.
“I try not to get too caught up in it because it takes longer sometimes. I just wait until they’re back with me and then we go from there.”
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