Wigan's Dan Sarginson will miss the start of next season through injury

Wigan centre Dan Sarginson has been ruled out of action for six months.

The former London Broncos back, who missed the start of the season with a hamstring injury, has been out with a similar problem for the last two months and recently underwent surgery.

Wigan were hopeful Sarginson would recover in time to play a part in the Super 8s run-in but scans have revealed severe damage to his hamstring tendon.

But Warriors coach Shaun Wane is confident John Bateman, Anthony Gelling or Oliver Gildart will seize the opportunity to replace the 22-year-old

We really wanted to give him every chance to play again this year... but this is our only option.

"We've just found out that Sarge has gone for six months which is sad because he's been great for us," Wane said. "I was hoping it wasn't as bad as we thought but scans have proved it's quite serious.

"We really wanted to give him every chance to play again this year but, after our medical staff and a couple of other medical experts who specialise in this area looked into it, we agreed that this was the only real option.

"We're gutted, as is Dan. It's a bad time to lose a first-team centre but we've no alternative but to keep working together as a team to make sure the loss does not affect us.

"John Bateman has done well at centre recently, young Oliver Gildart looks at home in the first team whilst we've Anthony Gelling fit again now so we've options there and it will be business as usual."

Sarginson, who made his England debut against Australia in Melbourne last November, is aiming to get back to action as soon as possible.

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He said: "I'm gutted with the news. No player likes picking up injuries but it's part and parcel of playing professional rugby league. My aim now is to work hard with my rehabilitation and to come back stronger next season."

Bateman has deputised at centre in Sarginson's recent absence but he is likely to revert to his normal back-row spot for the visit of Hull on Friday, with Gelling set for a recall.

Winger Joe Burgess is also poised to return but England second-rower Liam Farrell remains sidelined while Wigan have an injury doubts over skipper Sean O'Loughlin and prop Lee Mossop.