Paul Noone ruled out of pre-season friendlies (From Warrington Guardian)

Paul Noone ruled out of pre-season friendlies

WARRINGTON Wolves head coach Paul Cullen breathed a huge sigh of relief this week amid the news that Paul Noone should be fit for the start of the season.

Cullen has earmarked Noone as his first choice loose forward following Mike Forshaw's retirement.

But Noone suffered a nasty eye injury in a 'freak' collision with David Mills' shoulder in Wolves' festive friendly with Widnes.

The resultant bleeding and loss of vision has put paid to his hopes of taking part in Wolves' forthcoming friendlies with Whitehaven and Salford.

But the injury is not as bad as first feared and Noone should be available for selection in Wolves' Super League opener at London.

Head coach Paul Cullen, who has reported a clean bill of health from Sunday's 12-try rout against Barrow, said: "There's good news on Paul Noone and the news gets better by the day.

"We were worried that there was a bleed at the back of his eye but fortunately it actually came from the front of the eye around the pupil.

"It's settling down and his vision is coming back."