Warrington Wolves breathed a collective sigh of relief after scans revealed Arron Lindop’s knee injury is less severe than first feared. The young centre, just two games into his return from a year-long lay-off, limped off during last Thursday’s tense win over Catalans Dragons, sparking fears of another major setback.
Warrington confirmed in a statement, “Following further assessment, we’re pleased to update that Arron Lindop’s injuries are not as severe as first feared.” Optimism quickly replaced the anxiety that had gripped the club, which had been bracing for the possibility of another extended spell on the sidelines for Lindop.
Head coach Sam Burgess had been visibly concerned on the night, worried Lindop might have suffered a recurrence of his anterior cruciate ligament injury. Scans, however, showed damage to the medial knee ligament and ankle ligament instead.
A six-week recovery timeline now awaits Lindop. That’s a far cry from the months-long absence many had feared in the immediate aftermath.
Burgess Unhappy With Tackle Leading to Injury
Relief over the diagnosis hasn’t erased frustration about how the injury happened. Burgess didn’t mince words, calling the tackle by Catalans Dragons’ Guillermo Aispuro-Bichet “very ugly.”
Lindop was making only his second appearance after a 12-month recovery from a previous knee injury. The timing and nature of the challenge drew immediate anger from Warrington’s staff, with Burgess’s post-match comments underlining their sense of injustice.
So far, match officials have not issued any disciplinary action or comment regarding the tackle.
Six-Week Absence Confirmed Amid Cautious Optimism
Warrington’s update spelled out the specifics: Lindop suffered injuries to his medial knee ligament and ankle ligament. Medical staff expect him back in around six weeks, provided his rehab goes to plan.
Confirmation that Lindop hasn’t re-injured his ACL has lifted spirits inside the club. After a year out, any setback was a worry, but this diagnosis offers hope.
Lindop, 20, had only just returned in the defeat to Leeds Rhinos before being sidelined again. Now, the focus shifts to his rehabilitation, with hopes high that he can rejoin the squad for the business end of the season.
Burgess and the medical team will keep a close eye on Lindop’s progress as Warrington prepare to navigate the next rounds without their promising young centre.
