MORLEY NEARS COMEBACK
By Ian Laybourn, PA Sport Rugby League Correspondent
Great Britain forward Adrian Morley, who has yet to complete a full match for injury-hit Warrington, could make a surprise comeback against Catalans Dragons in Perpignan on Saturday.
The former Leeds and Sydney Roosters favourite suffered two facial injuries in the first six weeks of the season but expects to receive medical clearance on Thursday and was today named in coach Paul Cullen's initial squad.
"We have to name a 20-man squad and Adrian is less injured at this moment in time than Paul Johnson and Rob Parker, who are next in line to return," said Cullen.
"If Adrian doesn't play this week, then hopefully he will play next week.
"He will have medical clearance on Thursday and whether we decide to exercise that and play him without a full-on training session two days later is another matter."
Morley, who ended a six-year stint in Australia to return to England at the end of last season, fractured his left eye socket on his debut at Wigan in February.
His comeback five weeks later lasted just 17 minutes when he sustained a displaced fracture of the same cheekbone following a clash of heads with team-mate Johnson.
"It's been so frustrating," said Morley. "You just want to impress your new team-mates and the spectators and I've not done that.
"I can honestly say in my whole career this has been the most frustrating time but now there is a bit of light at the end of the tunnel and I just can't wait to get out there."
Warrington were without nine first team players for Sunday's 52-10 home defeat by Leeds but Cullen insists he will not be tempted to bring back his star man solely to alleviate the team problems.
"This will not be a performance decision, it will be a medical decision," he said. "No-one took a chance first time out and certainly no one is going to take any kind of chance second time.
"If he gets clearance on Thursday, we will use the time out there for Moz to work with the team so we can pinch two or three days in preparation for Bradford.
"Adrian is here for three years, not three months, and there is a long way to go this season yet."
Initially ruled out for four to six weeks, Morley reaches the four-week mark on Thursday and admits he is itching to get back on the field.
"Because it happened a second time, they like to give it slightly longer," he added.
"I feel really fit but I'm no expert on facial injuries and we'll go with what the medical people say.
"I feel really fresh because it has been an extension of the off season in a way. The only thing I'm shy of is contact and I'll start that as soon as the doctor says so."
Captain Lee Briers is set to return against the Dragons but fellow half-backs Michael Sullivan and Chris Bridge failed fitness tests today and Paul Johnson, Chris Leikvoll, Paul Wood, Rob Parker and Simon Grix remain unavailable.
Warrington will fly out to Perpignan tomorrow and centre Anthony Jerram, who made his Super League debut against Leeds, has had to take time off from his work as an apprentice engineer to make the trip.
