Doncaster RLFC head coach reveals extent of key man Brad England's injury and hopes for Challenge Cup draw

If we are then we’ll use it as another pre-season game ahead of the start of our League One campaign at North Wales the following weekend,” he said.

The club completed their scheduled pre-season fixtures with a 36-20 win over Super League Wakefield Trinity’s second string at the Keepmoat Stadium on Friday night.

With several players reporting knocks from the first warm-up game against Sheffield Eagles, and others having to either work or were unavailable for other reasons, the Dons were forced to operate with just a 19-man squad which included assistant coach Pete Green who came out of retirement to play.

The Dons, who led 22-10 at half time, lost second-rower Brad England and local teenager Kieron Lawton during the game.

England, who missed most of last season after dominating the end-of-season awards in 2018, was helped off with an ankle injury.

“When he went down I feared the worst but it’s a sprained ankle and we are looking at two to three weeks,” said Horne.

“The doc and the physio think it will settle down and although he probably won’t make the Challenge Cup game he should be okay for the first league game the following weekend and I’d take that.”

Lawton, the son of former Dons captain Craig Lawton, came off with a shoulder injury.

“He’s gone for a scan but the physio doesn’t seem to think that it is anything major,” said Horne.

“He thinks he got himself into an awkward position and should be okay but we’ll just have to wait for the results.”