Fitzgibbon, Ashton and Crowther fitness updates, plus Philbin and Bruines news

WARRINGTON Wolves will have at least one senior player back from injury for Huddersfield Giants’ visit on Friday.

Head coach Sam Burgess has confirmed second rower Lachlan Fitzgibbon is ready to return having had a minor procedure to correct a back injury.

Having been withdrawn at half-time during the Challenge Cup Final last month, the Australian was revealed to have been carrying the injury and he has not featured in the two games that have followed it.

Now, though, he is ready to resume his key role on The Wire’s left edge.

“He’s over it – he had a little procedure on it but he’s trained fully this week so he’ll be good to go,” Burgess said of Fitzgibbon.

“He’s no spring chicken anymore but he plays tough and puts his body on the line.

“Hopefully we see him on the field consistently now.”

Wire will have Lachlan Fitzgibbon back against Huddersfield on Friday (Image: SWPix.com)

There is more doubt about winger Matty Ashton’s participation, with a call to be made later in the week on the speedster’s own back issue.

The injury forced Ashton off during the victory at Hull FC last time out and took him out of contention for England’s mid-season Test against France, but Burgess has not yet ruled him out of the clash with the Giants.

The Wire boss did confirm forward Jordy Crowther was not yet ready to return from the ankle injury that forced him off at Wembley but that he could be in contention for next Thursday’s clash with Leeds Rhinos.

“Lachie is back, we’re not too sure on Matty Ashton just yet and Jordy Crowther won’t play this week,” he said.

“Jordy’s not far off – he’s close this week but he’ll possibly be ready for next week.”

Matty Ashton's fitness for Friday's game will be assessed through the week (Image: SWPix.com)

All four of Warrington’s England representatives – half-back and captain George Williams and forwards Ben Currie, Matty Nicholson and James Harrison – have reported back to their club in good health and are all available to play on Friday.

Burgess also issued updates on long-term injury concerns Joe Philbin (adductor muscle) and Wesley Bruines (hamstring).

The update on young forward Bruines, who is yet to make his debut after signing from St Helens having torn his hamstring in pre-season, is a particularly devastating one.

“Wes has had a really tough time,” Burgess said.

“He had a really bad hamstring injury, had it repaired and then in his first session back at full fitness, he pulled his other one in a freak accident.

“He’s had a really tough run, but he’s such a great lad with a great attitude.

“He’d got himself in great shape but he just needs to get his body right now.

“He just needs to play as he hasn’t played for a long time. As we’ve seen through the Covid era, not playing for a long time does affect your development so we’ve got to get him playing.

“He didn’t play much last year at Saints – he was 18th man a lot which meant he wasn’t actually playing, so we need to get him out on the field.”

On Philbin, he added: “Philbs is doing alright – he’s on track but he’s still five or six weeks away, maybe longer.”

Wes Bruines has suffered a setback in his recovery from a torn hamstring (Image: SWPix.com)