PHIL STEPHENSON is out of action for three months after breaking in bone in his face during Sunday's National Cup clash with Sheffield Eagles.

Stephenson, who has been the outstanding performer in the Cougar's roller-coaster season so far, suffered three fractures in the bone around his right eye and is to undergo an operation on Monday.

But he has been warned he will not be able to play rugby for three months.

The injury follows the long-term injury to Jason Ramshaw which has put him on the sidelines for several months.

Stephenson played on after clashing heads in a tackle which caused the injury. He was substituted as part of coach Gary Moorby's game plan, but it soon became obvious the knock was serious.

He was taken to hospital from Sheffield's Don Valley Stadium and x-rays confirmed he had broken the bone in three places. Monday's operation is due to take place at St Luke's Hospital, Bradford, when surgeons will fit a metal plate to hold the fractured bone together.

The injury was another blow to Moorby's wafer-thin squad.

"I was hoping we would be strengthening the squad in the next few days, but this is a tremendous blow.

"Obviously our first thoughts are with Phil and the priority is for his health. I just hope he recovers soon. He has had a tremendous season so far and hopefully he will be back in action before the end of the campaign in September," Moorby said.

After two games in a week the club has next week off before travelling to Gateshead for their last National Cup game on May 5. The players will then have a min-pre-season training campaign before the league re-starts with Oldham's visit to Cougar Park on June 2.

The club is also on the verge of reaching agreement with Guiseley Football Club as they plan to keep the ground busy throughout the winter months.

"We have been having talks with Guiseley and are having a further meeting early next week when we hope to finalise an agreement," said a club spokesman.

The Guiseley Club, which plays in UniBond Division One, also gave a letter to all supporters saying that a move to Keighley was the only way to make progress after plans to develop their present ground had been repeatedly turned down.

Club chairman Phil Rogers said: "We put out letters to all our supporters on Saturday and are looking for feedback from them to help us make up our minds.

"I must stress that no decision has been made yet."

But Cougars chairman, Neil Spencer, expects to reach a deal. "We have a verbal agreement which now has to go before the lawyers but hopefully there will be a high level of football being played at Cougar Park next winter."

If an agreement is reached Guiseley's first team could have completed the move to Keighley in time for the start of the next football season in August.

n The Cougar Scholarship Scheme was launched this week with 28 boys from 13-16 years of age invited to join the scheme.

"It is a tremendous breakthrough for the club and now we have a pathway through from junior level all the way to the first team.

"Everyone at the club is fully behind the project," said Scholarship Manager, Jeremy Crowther.