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Injury blow for Hornets

Mike Floyd
22/12/2005

HORNETS new signing John Pickersgill has been sidelined for up to six months by injury.

The 21-year-old prop forward, who signed from Warrington Wolves in November, went into hospital last week for minor surgery on his shoulder. When surgeons investigated further they found a tear in his shoulder muscle, which will prevent him from playing until June.

The news came as a blow to coach Darren Abram, but there was better news when former Leigh and Oldham front-rower Paul Norman signed for the club on Tuesday.

Norman, also a powerful prop, is recovering from a shoulder injury. He is making good progress, while looking forward to a successful season at Spotland and said: "I'm excited about joining Hornets. It's a club with a strong squad plus a coach and one or two players I know and I've played with. I'm feeling good about it.

"When you go to a new team you always like to see faces you know. I've played under Darren and rate his coaching ability so I'm happy about it.

"The surgery on my shoulder went well. I'm just waiting for some physiotherapy to start rebuilding the strength in the shoulder. I hope to get back into training this week. Obviously not upper body but just to get my fitness built up. I've not done anything since last season."

Once fit Norman knows he is in for a tough campaign but it is one he relishes. "It will be hard, with a lot of teams looking for promotion to Super League.

"Everyone seems to be going for broke and there are a lot of big packs about. So it will be a tough season for me and the team."