By Helen Thompson

Last updated 12:48, Tuesday, 09 September 2008

Workington's Town's Iain Marsh has seen his Scotland World Cup dreams shattered after having to undergo emergency surgery following Town’s play-off defeat at Keighley.

Iain Marsh

Marsh is still in hospital in Yorkshire, after breaking his arm and dislocating his wrist in Sunday’s clash.

The centre, named in the Scotland squad for the World Cup , was taken from the field midway through the second half and taken straight to hospital.

And his Town boss and Scotland assistant coach, Dave Rotheram, said he believed his World Cup dream would be now over.

“Iain had to undergo emergency surgery on Sunday night and is still in hospital in Keighley,” said Rotheram, below. “It is only five weeks until the Scotland squad travels to Australia so it looks as though Iain won’t make it.

“It is a big blow for him but when you look that it took David Fatialofa about three months to come back from similar surgery it doesn’t look good for him.”

Marsh was named in the initial Scottish squad under Rotheram and former Haven coach Steve McCormack, along with fellow Town star Matt Tunstall and Whitehaven’s Spencer Miller.

The trio were all hoping to make it into the final side that would travel down under for the competition, which starts at the end of October. And Town’s injury woes haunted them further in the final game, with Shaun Lunt also leaving the field, along with Bryce Poisel, the duo just having made it back for this game.

Lunt aggravated his back injury once more while Australian Poisel dislocated his shoulder.

“The injuries just didn’t stop,” said a disappointed Rotheram. “We lost Shaun just after half time when we were 18-10 behind and if we had been able to keep him on the field, then something might have happened.

“We just were not quite good enough on the day, Keighley played very well and we did not have a chance with even more injuries.”