Salford star facing spell on sidelines after bizarre training ground injury

Salford winger Ken Sio is facing around a month on the sidelines with an ankle injury after falling down a pot hole on the club’s training pitch.

The 32-year-old, who was part of Samoa’s World Cup squad last year, has been ruled out for up to four weeks after a freak accident in training which saw him twist his ankle in a pot hole.

Red Devils coach Paul Rowley confirmed the injury blow to Ken Sio, who finished the season as Super League’s top try scorer last year.

“He fell down a pot hole on our training pitch,” Rowley said. “He twisted his ankle on a hole on the pitch. I’ve had my say on the training pitch many times in the past so it’s just another one.

“It’s full of pot holes. Like I said before, it’s nobodies fault, it’s just one pitch between lots of teams. It doesn’t get repaved to the standard that it should be. Again, it’s not a pop at anyone in particular, it’s just the state of play.

“It is disappointing and you’d like to think we can be better on that. However, as I’ve said many times, you can either sit and whinge about it or just crack on. I had a whinge I think last year so I’m not going to keep having the same whinge, it is what it is so we’ll crack on.”

Salford boss provides update on Tim Lafai

Rowley also revealed that star centre Tim Lafai is four weeks away from returning to action.

“Him and Kenny are both four weeks,” Rowley said. “It’ll be an eight-week in total, Tim didn’t respond well, his calf injury particularly.

“His hamstring is fine, his calf just didn’t respond well. You would hope six at best, eight at worst, but it is going to turn into an eight or nine-week injury now unfortunately.”

Rowley said forwards Danny Addy and Alex Gerrard could return from the treatment room within the next couple of weeks.

Ken Sio ruled out as England debutant Tyler Dupree returns from international duty

Powerhouse front-rower Tyler Dupree made his international debut for England in their 64-0 demolition of France in Warrington last Saturday.

Rowley said the club were proud of Dupree earning his England call-up, and is backing him to kick on to another level now.

“I expect Tyler to carry on as he has been doing,” Rowley said. “The England call-up was recognition more than anything.

“He has got a lot of hard work to do, he is not the finished article, he knows that and we want him to maintain that hunger that he’s had from day one of joining us and I’m sure he will.

“Whilst we are all really proud of him, it is really important that he continues to work hard and look to progress and he’ll get many more opportunities then to pull on that England jersey for sure.

“It would have been a good environment to be in and rub shoulders with other England players. Obviously they’ve clearly got a good set-up there where everything is provided and it is a taste of that international scene.

“I thought Tyler had a really good game. His form will put him in good stead if he continues to progress for the real deal (Tonga series) at the end of the year.”

Next up for Salford is a trip to Leeds on Friday night, 8pm kick-off.

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