Gerrard injury blow for Widnes

Widnes youngster Alex Gerrard is facing two months on the sidelines with a torn posterior cruciate ligament injury.

Gerrard, 21, has played in the club’s last 17 games, the longest streak amongst the whole of the Vikings first team squad, but suffered the injury in Friday’s Challenge Cup win over Doncaster.

He signed an extended contract, until the end of 2015, at the Stobart Stadium earlier this season.

The Vikings have at least been boosted by the news that Rhys Hanbury, Gareth Hock, Ben Cross, Cameron Phelps, Chris Dean and Eamon O’Carroll are all back in contention for Friday’s visit of Wakefield.

Long-term absentees Danny Craven and Stefan Marsh are nearing the end of their rehabilitation, while Dave Allen is also not too far away from a return to action.