Johnstone suffers season-ending injury

MJ Black

Wakefield winger Tom Johnstone is out for the season after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament during Trinity’s victory over Catalan on Sunday.

Johnstone will undergo surgery which will sideline him for between six and eight months, ruling him out of England contention for the World Cup later this year.

Wakefield physio Ryan Carmody told the club’s official website: “The making of the injury is a contact injury. It took his knee into a movement it shouldn’t have gone into and unfortunately, his ACL has ruptured.

“It’s not the best news but we’re being positive.

“These injuries are fairly common. The surgeon, who is very good, has done a lot of rugby players in the past but we’re looking at a six-to-eight month recovery. It’s a standard protocol.

“Unfortunately it is the nature of the sport. It is tough on Tom, but the club is really supportive and he has got a good medical team behind him. No doubt Tom will come back a lot stronger.”

Johnstone added: “Yesterday I was really down when I got told, but I have had a lot of messages from a lot of the boys and coaching staff. It helps to know everyone is there for you.

“I’m pretty positive, confident with the recovery, and hopefully I’ll come back bigger, better and stronger.”