Aston on injuries in Batley win and Bradford Bulls test
05/03/2020
Sheffield Eagles will be without Josh Guzdek for the next four to six weeks after dislocating his shoulder during the golden point extra time win over Batley Bulldogs.
Guzdek was the second Eagles player to leave the field with an injury, after Rob Worrincy hobbled off earlier in the contest but his knock isn’t as bad as first feared.
Eagles chief Mark Aston also hopes Corey Makelim will be available for selection in the next couple of weeks following an injury at training.
“Rob’s injury is not as bad as we first thought,” Aston explained.
"He has got a slim chance this weekend but if he’s not back, we hope he will be for the next game.
“Guzzy could be four to six weeks.
“He had a subluxed (partial dislocation) shoulder which has gone back in but it’s all about strengthening that and rehabilitating.
“Corey’s (Makelim) injury does not need surgery. We were looking at three to six weeks from when it happened, so we’re into the second week now.
“There’s a chance he could be back in the next couple of weeks.”
There are promising signs for long-term absentees Matt James and James Glover, who are still recovering from injuries sustained at last year’s Summer Bash.
“On Matty James, he’s back running now,” Aston added.
“Glover’s more or less back in full training.
“He’s probably four to six weeks away, we’re building his contact now so there are signs of people coming back which will certainly add to us.
“If we can get him (James) back to the form he was in last year, we’re going to get that as well as the added value of the captaincy and experience.
“Glover was flying last year, a great kid and character.
“He is one of the characters of the team and we need him out there because the things he can do - the tries he scored and set up with Ryan Millar were pretty special.”
Ahead of this Sunday’s game against the Bulls, Aston has complimented John Kear’s work in bringing together a competitive squad despite the club’s temporary move to Dewsbury Rams’ Tetley’s Stadium.
Regarding his own side the Eagles boss admits he will need to “switch things up” due to the injury list, while also praising the youngsters as they aim to establish themselves as Championship regulars.
“They (Bradford) have quality players, bringing in Anthony England, Matty Dawson-Jones and keeping hold of Jordan Lilley and getting Rowan Milnes back from Hull KR,” he said.
“The transition of playing from a wider pitch to a smaller pitch, which will be quite heavy, is tough but I’ve watched them and have been pretty impressed.
“We’re going have to be good, we’ll have to switch things up; find someone who can play full-back, we finished Sunday with Izaac (Farrell) there, Joel Farrell and Aaron Brown were in the centres.
“We will have to shuffle it. Menzie Yere is back and will be in contention after his knee injury.
“It will be a tough task but the steel we have shown in the last couple of weeks will put us in good stead.
“They (the youngsters) are needed.
“Lewis Taylor has certainly developed from a League 1 player to the level of the Championship.
“The same goes for Blake Broadbent, Paddy Burns, Rory Dixon - they’re all finding their way.
“I have talked about the adversity of not having some players available but what it does give is another kid an opportunity.
“I was talking to Gary Hetherington yesterday about a different subject but we discussed where Leeds have come from with Cameron Smith and Harry Newman, the games they have had to play have put them in good places.
“Now they’re establishing themselves as Super League players.
“This is where we’re at, with these players establishing themselves as Championship players and we have every confidence in them.”
The Eagles' game against Bradford (6:15pm KO) will be shown live on the Our League app/website.
Make sure to register here or download the app via the App Store (iOS) or Google Play (Android).
By Dan Fowler, photo by Alex Coleman
