Daryl Powell pleased to have selection headache

James Gordon

Castleford coach Daryl Powell welcomes back some key men this weekend and says he is pleased to finally have some selection headaches.

Luke Gale, Ben Roberts and Adam Milner all return to the Tigers squad for their clash with Challenge Cup winners Catalans on Saturday.

Powell told the club’s official website: ”It’s been a tough year in terms of injuries and quite a few of our high quality players have been missing for parts of the season so it’s a great time to have some selection headaches.

“That always drives players’ standards and team performance standards as a result of that. I’ve got some decisions to make and I’ll be pretty happy to be making them. We’ll have Ben Roberts and Luke Gale available this week and I’ll make a decision as we roll through the week on who starts.”

Gale, a pivotal figure in the Tigers run to the Grand Final last season, has managed only 10 appearances this term, his last appearance coming in the win over Wakefield back in April.

Despite a shaky start to the season at full-back, Roberts managed 11 appearances before hamstring and knee injuries have seen him sidelined since the home defeat to St Helens in May.

Gale is likely to partner Jake Trueman in the halves, with Jamie Ellis sidelined with a back injury, and Roberts expected to start on the bench.

A win for Castleford, coupled with defeat for Huddersfield this weekend, would secure their place in the top four play-offs.