Wakefield Trinity: Coach Chris Chester tips Liam Kay to shine after Tom Johnstone's 'gut wrenching' injury setback

Johnstone has overcome two anterior cruciate ligament injuries in the past and was in the second game of his comeback from concussion when he suffered a lateral meniscus tear, which is damage to cartilage on the outside of the knee joint, in last Thursday’s win over Wigan Warriors.

He could be sidelined for around eight to 10 weeks and Chester admitted: “The poor kid doesn’t get any luck.”

He said: “It is one thing after another for him.

“It was his 100th game for Wakefield and it has taken some time getting to that point, but to miss another large part of the season is gut wrenching for Tom and really disappointing for the team.

“He is such an important player to us.”

But Chester insisted: “It gives an opportunity to Liam Kay, who I thought was unlucky to miss out when Tom came back in.

“His finishing capabilities have been second to none and he has done really, really well this year.”

Forward Jordan Crowther also suffered knee damage against Wigan and is facing a similar lay-off.

“He has done his mcl [medial collateral ligament],” Chester reported.

“He said he did it within the first five minutes.

“He played the full first half and probably got through on adrenaline.

“He’d not really complained about anything, then we strapped it up in the second half to give it a bit of support.

“He wanted to go back out and said it was fine, but the strapping seemed to make it worse, for some reason, and he couldn’t continue the game.

“He’s had a scan and he has got a grade three rupture of his mcl, so it was another disappointing week in terms of injuries.”

Chester added: “Mason Lino got injured as well, with his foot and Jay Pitts injured his back in the first five minues, but managed to play on.

“Jacob Miller missed that game with his plantar fascia [heel injury].

“Those three guys won’t train until the team run and we’ll make a call then.”

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