Workington Town’s fringe players must take the opportunities handed to them by a trio of injuries, according to director of rugby Les Ashe.

Full-back Tee Ritson has been sidelined for several months with a posterior cruciate ligament injury, while new arrival Phil Joseph is out for three to four weeks. And loanee Jack Higginson is likely to miss Sunday’s league visit from Gloucestershire All Golds.

Ashe expected coach Dave Clark to have an idea of which players would come into the side this weekend after last night’s scheduled training session, and he admitted it would be up to those players to make the most of it.

“It’s a long season and even if you start with a relatively big squad you pick up knocks, that’s the nature of the game,” he said.

“Sometimes you see players in different positions because of injuries.

“It gives other lads a chance, lads who might not have had a lot of game time.

"That’s the point of a squad but they have to perform.

“Once those players are back you then have real competition for places which is a headache the coach will like to have, even if they say they don’t.”

The return of John Patrick from injury will also provide a boost to Clark’s side.