Last updated at 12:15, Tuesday, 19 February 2013

Sidelined skipper Lee Doran could be set to return for Whitehaven at Dewsbury on Sunday after missing out on the club’s bright start to the Championship campaign.

Lee Doran

The powerful packman has sat out all but the opening six minutes of the season after suffering tears to a rotator cuff against York. But he is closing in on a potential return to action.

“It is coming along nicely,” said Doran, one of Haven’s most consistent forwards over the past two seasons. “I trained really hard pre-season and did a lot away from the club on my own, early morning and late at night. But I’ve been quite lucky with injuries in previous years, and I can’t complain.”

Dewsbury have opened with two wins from their opening three games, their sole defeat coming at home to title favourites Featherstone by only two points, and Doran reckons Haven face potentially one of their tougher trips.

“We are going to need every one of our lads to be 100 per cent to come away with any points or a result. But at the moment we have the best prop in the division, Dave Houghton, who is playing out of his skin,” he said.

“You can’t underestimate what coaches Dave Woods and David Seeds have brought, and the confidence they have instilled in us.

“To have so many new players, and to get them to gel as they have, they need a pat on the back.”

Doran reckons Haven have made an encouraging start to the season, with wins against York and Keighley, though warned they could have wrapped up the league points earlier in both. And he believes they must learn from last week’s defeat against Leigh.

“The guys stood up well,” said the captain, who is not taking his place for granted, even if fit to face Dewsbury. “Paul Cullnean was outstanding and had probably the best game I’ve seen him play for us.

“It’s all about building pressure in this division. When you play good teams like Leigh and Featherstone you get limited opportunities in their half. We need to make sure we make things count and not try to score off every set and every play.”

First published at 12:04, Tuesday, 19 February 2013
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk