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Rugby League

Giants hit by Hodgson injury

10/01/2008

Huddersfield Giants have been handed a major blow ahead of the 2008 Super League season with the news that new signing David Hodgson will be out for six months.

The 26-year-old winger has suffered torn knee ligaments in a training ground incident and will now be unavailable until around July.

Hodgson signed for coach Jon Sharp's side from relegated Salford City Reds during the off-season and was due to make his debut for the Giants in Sunday's testimonial for Paul King at Hull FC's KC Stadium.

"This is obviously a big blow to the club but it's an even bigger blow to David," Sharp said.

"I'm absolutely gutted for the lad and everyone at the club who had worked so hard to get him here in the face of strong competition from a number of big clubs.

"He's one of the best wingers in the game and he would have brought an extra dimension to our play."

Sharp described the incident that has sidelined the Great Britain international as being of an "innocuous nature", saying it made the news "even tougher to take".

"All he was doing was twisting to pass the ball during a training session and felt a slight tweak," he continued.

"Initially he didn't think it was anything to worry about but the following day his knee had swollen up like a balloon and our physio, Gary Slade, immediately sent him for a scan.

"It was then the damage was revealed. David's now got a two-week wait for the swelling to go down before he can undergo surgery.

"I suppose the only consolation is that, when he returns in July, it will be like welcoming a new player and that's really the start of the business end of the season."