Wolves shaping up on all fronts (From Warrington Guardian)

Warrington Wolves welcome several players back from injury

11:01am Thursday 17th May 2012 in Wolves news By Christopher Terris Taylor

WOLVES welcome Stefan Ratchford back from long-term injury for the Super League trip to Wakefield Trinity Wildcats on Sunday, kick off 3.30pm.

Head of coaching and rugby Tony Smith has listed the 23-year-old as one of several big names the club will integrate back into the first-team squad over the coming weeks, with the former Salford back having now recovered from the shoulder injury picked up nearly three months ago against Leeds Rhinos.

Wolves will also hope to see the return of captain Adrian Morley from the neck injury that has kept him sidelined since Easter, while Smith also revealed that David Solomona is closing in on a comeback after the second rower fractured his leg and dislocated his ankle during the pre-season training camp in Australia.

“We have a few options at hand, as Stefan Ratchford is available to us for selection and David Solomona has been told that he can start full training again,” said Smith.

“He needs a little bit of time under his belt, but they are happy for him to resume full contact, which is great news.

“Adrian Morley could also be in contention for selection this week. He was close to playing at the weekend but just fell a bit short.”

Despite some concerns that Wolves have not been hitting the heights expected of them in terms of performance, they are in an enviable position at the season’s mid-way point.

Sitting third in Super League, having lost one less game than at the same stage last year, Wolves charged into the semi finals of the Challenge Cup on Sunday after handing Catalan Dragons their first defeat on home soil this year.

Much of this has been achieved without, for various lengths of time, the input of Michael Monaghan, Morley, Ratchford, Solo-mona and Richie Myler, whose return from injury has suffered a temporary setback.

“Myler had an operation to sort out a hernia on Thursday and should be back within three weeks,” said Smith.

It has also been a period in which vital senior experience has been handed to rising talent.

“It is a strong possibility (this weekend) that we will see the return of some of the younger players we have been seeing recently, as Ben Currie was unlucky to miss out last week.

“Some of those returning players will need game time in order to be at their best and some will need some rest at some point, so it is a question of balancing all that out.”