Last updated: 12th January 2009
Raynor: Sidelined
The ballpark figure is around April time. Whether it is shorter or longer depends on what they do.
Richard Agar
Quotes of the week
Hull FC winger Gareth Raynor is set to miss the start of the season following toe surgery.
The 30-year-old was forced to pull out of England's World Cup squad after injections in his problem big toe had allowed him to see out the 2008 season.
While a second operation on Tuesday is expected to repair the problem, Hull head coach Richard Agar admits it could require a long rehabilitation period.
"He has had to wait for the skin on his toe to heal before they can go in again because of the increased risk of infection," Agar said.
"Gareth is in for his toe to be operated Tuesday. After that it depends what the surgeon does or doesn't find before we get some sort of estimate as to how long he is going to be out.
"The ballpark figure is around April time. Whether it is shorter or longer depends on what they do."
Raynor will now definitely miss the club's pre-season training camp in Portugal and new signing Dominic Maloney is also a doubt through injury.
The former Dewbury prop is yet to recover from an accident, which left him with a facial wound.
"It was quite a freak accident," Agar continued. "He's nicked a vein in the side of his face that has been bleeding internally.
"They've got to open him up and clip that vein back together. We'll take him if he can fly, if the surgeon says he can't then he too will stay at home."
New signing Michael Crocker is still yet to sort out his visa application issues meanwhile, and Agar has not ruled out adding another face to the KC Stadium squad.
"If we get the right calibre and quality of player available we are in a position to move if we need to, but if not I'm happy we have got a squad that can be more than competitive," he added.
"There is probably a slight imbalance in that we have more forwards compared to backs, but some players are interchangeable.
"Without a doubt we need more depth in the half-back positions and could probably do with an outside back, but I don't think we are in desperate need for them."

Pictures from Rhinos' victory over Tony Smith's Warrington Wolves at the Halliwell Jones Stadium.
Pictures from the World Club Challenge final between Leeds and Manly at Elland Road.
Pictures from Friday night's match where Giants claimed their first league win at Bulls for 40 years.
Pictures from Headingley Carnegie where Leeds and Celtic Crusaders kicked off the new season.
Pictures from Rhinos' victory over Tony Smith's Warrington Wolves at the Halliwell Jones Stadium.
| Time | Fixture |
|---|---|
| Engage Super League | |
| Saturday 4th July | |
| 17:00 | Hull vs Leeds |
| 18:00 | Celtic Crusaders vs Warrington |
| 20:00 | Catalans Dragons vs Hull K R |
| Sunday 5th July | |
| 15:00 | Bradford vs Castleford |
| 15:00 | Huddersfield vs Wakefield |
| Friday 10th July | |
| 20:00 | Wigan vs Catalans Dragons |
| 20:00 | Wakefield vs Leeds |
| Saturday 11th July | |
| 15:00 | Harlequins RL vs Huddersfield |
| 18:00 | Celtic Crusaders vs Salford |
| Sunday 12th July | |
| 15:00 | Hull K R vs Bradford |
| Time | Result |
|---|---|
| Engage Super League | |
| Friday 3rd July | |
| Salford 20 - 10 St Helens | |
| Wigan 40 - 12 Harlequins RL | |
| Sunday 28th June | |
| Hull K R 28 - 36 Wigan | |
| Wakefield 20 - 18 Harlequins RL | |
| Warrington 24 - 12 Hull | |
| Saturday 27th June | |
| Castleford 20 - 22 Catalans Dragons | |
| Friday 26th June | |
| Leeds 33 - 20 Bradford | |
| Salford 10 - 34 Huddersfield | |
| St Helens 30 - 0 Celtic Crusaders | |
| Sunday 21st June | |
| Bradford 18 - 44 St Helens | |
Read what Sky Sports' experts and bloggers have been talking about over the last seven days in sport...
As clubs start planning for 2010, Luke Dorn explains why July can be a nervous month for players.
Ian Millward told Boots 'n' All that it is his ambition to lead Leigh Centurions into the Super League.
Sean Long will be absent for around two months after it was confirmed he suffered a broken jaw in St Helens' 20-10 defeat at Salford
Sydney Roosters forward Mark O'Meley has agreed a three-year deal to become Hull's fourth signing for 2010.
Hull FC coach Richard Agar has been forced to make two changes to his squad for Saturday.
Dane Carlaw has been ruled out of Catalans Dragons' clash at home to Hull KR on Saturday.
Celtic Crusaders forward Darren Mapp has been ruled out for the season after having an operation to repair a torn pectoral muscle.