Cougars club captain James Feather suffered a depressed fracture of his cheekbone in yesterday’s Co-operative Championship One 20-16 win over Hunslet Hawks.

Feather, known to Cougar fans as ‘Buster’, was injured in an accidental clash of heads with his team-mate Daley Williams as they were involved in a first-half tackle on a Hawks player.

The Cougar captain went straight to hospital for X-rays and diagnosis. He was released after treatment.

Barry Eaton, the Cougars Head Coach, said: “We shall know after Wednesday whether Buster will need an operation or not.

“The way it looks at the moment if he has to have an operation he will be out of action for three months but if he doesn’t then, if we were to do well and reach the Grand Final, he could be fit in time for the big day at Warrington on Sunday, October4.

“You can’t take risks with this kind of injury and the most important thing is Buster’s long term health.

“It’s disappointing to lose him five days before our last league game of the season at London Skolars but that’s part and parcel of playing Rugby League.”

Eaton’s other major concern in the build up to the London Skolars game is prop Ryan Benjafield who twisted his ankle ligaments and took no further part in yesterday’s league game after leaving the field in the 32nd minute.

Added Eaton: “We’ll know more about Ryan’s situation when he comes for the medical check on Tuesday evening”.