HOME-GROWN player Stuart Calvert must consider himself the unluckiest player in the Cougar Park squad.

The Keighley-based player had been looking to make a big impact on the NFP after shining in the club's youth teams in recent years. He had impressed in his short career with the senior side, but has been out for the whole of the season so far with a wrist injury. After months of physiotherapy he was finally given the all-clear to play in last weekend's clash with Leigh.

The sporting all-rounder lasted just a few minutes of the game when he suffered a groin strain and had to be replaced.

Now Calvert is expected to be out for a further two or three weeks before he can return to action.

Coach Gary Moorby returned from his family holiday in France in time to travel to Leigh to see his side go down to a 52-16 defeat last weekend.

After the game he said: "We were very disappointed with the final result. We were under no illusions how tough the fixture was going to be, but we expected to run them closer than we did.

"Leigh are a very experienced and skillful football team and we matched them quite well in the first 40 minutes. Once they got further in front in the second half they became very confident and virtually everything they tried came off.

"Our boys had three tough games before this and I think those games took a lot out of us. We looked tired and missed far too many tackles, but we kept working and Olly Marns' try at the end was an absolute beauty."

The team is back in action tonight (Friday) when they take on Sheffield. The Eagles beat Cougars 60-0 in a nightmare game in January. They completed a double when they won 35-14 in the National Cup, but that was a much closer game and there were signs that Keighley were close to making a breakthrough.

"The players are looking forward to tonight's game and are anxious to give Cougar fans something to cheer about. The Eagles have beaten us away from home twice this season and the lads are determined to make it third time lucky for us."

Chris Wainwright, who missed the Leigh game with an ankle injury, and Dave Foster who was out with a dead leg, were due to have fitness tests last night and could be in the line-up.

Craig Horne could also be back in the reckoning after missing the last three games with a hamstring injury.

n The Cougar Under-19 Academy side is to play Sheffield Eagles tomorrow (Saturday) as they look for their first win of the season. the game kicks off at 2.30pm.

Last Sunday they were beaten 60-6 at Leigh, but the scoreline flattered the home side who scored their last 22 points while Cougars were a man short.

Several Keighley players gave gutsy performances, particularly props Scott Bellamy and Alister Beaumont.

n After tonight's game there is an evening of entertainment as part of Jason Ramshaw's Testimonial Year.

The event, which has been organised by the keighley Independent Supporters Club is to be held at the New Variety Club, formerly the Gas Club, in Russell Street, Keighley.

Local band Five Previous Owners will play during the evening, tickets cost £3.