Burgess boost as Salford coach reveals more on Ackers and Lafai injuries

Salford coach Paul Rowley has revealed winger Joe Burgess will return this week, whilst providing an update on the injuries to Andy Ackers and Tim Lafai.

Burgess has been named in Rowley’s 21-man squad for their trip to his former club Wigan on Friday night after a couple of weeks on the sidelines with a shoulder injury.

Rowley said: “Budgie’s injury isn’t as bad (as first feared) so it is good to have him back in the squad.”

Burgess in, duo out

The Red Devils will be without hooker Andy Ackers (knee) and centre Tim Lafai (hamstring) for Friday’s match.

However, the positive news for Salford is that they are only short-term losses.

On Ackers, Rowley said: “That was a knee injury that he took in to the (Wakefield) game. There are certain things that everyone doesn’t know and while people (other teams) are rotating and resting, we’re injecting and throwing them out there.

“To play Andy this week would be detrimental to the forthcoming weeks so he is at least this week, maybe another but its nothing long-term – two weeks max.”

Samoa international Lafai has been named in Rowley’s 21-man squad for the Wigan game – but he won’t play.

Rowley added: “He has been out doing some light stuff today with the physios so he is not as bad as first thought.

“The scan came back relatively positive so we’re hopeful that will only be short-term as well.”

Paul Rowley full of praise for duo

The Salford boss praised front-row pair Adam Sidlow and Tyler Dupree for their explosive performances in last Sunday’s 14-13 win over Wakefield.

Rowley told Love Rugby League: “They were really good and their game sense was really good as well.

“Tyler played beyond his years in terms of his game smarts. Adam has got such good go-forward but his control of the game when he was on was really sensible. They just know how to manage the game.

“I thought them two and particularly our right edge with Kallum Watkins, Kenny (Sio) and Deon (Cross) were churning up some metres for us. We didn’t find metres hard to make but our execution was a little bit off but those two boys (Tyler and Adam) were really good. In Tyler’s case, he has been good every week so to have Siggy jump on that with him was fantastic.

“To throw into the mix (Alex) Gerrard and Ollie P (Partington) when they are back up and running, then we’ve got some good choices there. When we are able to put our best 17 out, we look a decent side on paper.”

Salford face Wigan at the DW Stadium on Friday night, live on Sky Sports.

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