4:55pm Thursday 17th June 2010
VIKINGS full back James Ford has broken his foot and will miss Sunday’s crucial Northern Rail Cup semi final at Keighley.
It is the yet another depressing addition to the long injury list that has plagued Widnes’ campaign for the first five months of the season.
Ford broke a metatarsal in last Sunday’s defeat against Barrow and will be out for six weeks, with new loan signing Chaz I’Anson (ligaments and cartilage) joining him on the sidelines for a similar timescale.
Coach Paul Cullen is likely to operate with speedy winger Paddy Flynn at full back after impressing in a first run out there on Sunday following Ford’s departure.
Cullen said: “James’ was a freak injury, sustained without contact, in the game on Sunday.
“It is potted and has gone for six weeks and that is just indicative of the injury crisis that has kept a grip on the team.
“All in all we have to re-jig and readjust for the semi final.
“We had an outside hope that Chaz I’Anson may have been fit, but unfortunately his scans show that that he has not simply damaged his cartilage, but Hull KR are concerned he may have damaged his cruciate ligaments.
“He won’t be playing for the next four to six weeks. We have not seen him since he left the stadium injured the other week.”
Cullen rates the chances of key players Toa Kohe-Love, Dave Allen and Chris Gerrard as 50/50.
Vikings are still hopeful that powerful prop Jordan James could return – but that is in the hands of Crusaders, who would have to release the player for one month at a time.
Sunday’s game at Cougar Park is trickier game than the Championship table suggests.
The fact that the Championship season is done and dusted for the Yorkshiremen makes the Cougars a more dangerous opponents – and they will be gunning to make a trip to Blackpool to salvage their season.
Cullen said: “We have a great deal of respect for Keighley.
“They were a good side last season found it hard to adapt to the new division but stuck at it.
“They are going to throw everything they have got this season into this game – getting to the Northern Rail Final will be their season.
“My gamble of holding some players back and getting them ready for the semi final will pay its dividends.”
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