Workington Town forward Dave Weetman has switched to League One side Midlands Hurricanes on a two-week loan.
Weetman, 22, has been having shoulder issues recently and the plan to send him to the Hurricanes is for him to pick up valuable game time.
Town have hooker Dec O’Donnell coming to the end of a similar spell on loan at Oldham, as he puts minutes on the clock following an injury lay-off.
Weetman, a former Newcastle Thunder forward, signed for Town last August and within a month had suffered an horrific ankle injury at London Skolars in a League One fixture.
The ankle was broken and dislocated and it was a long road back before he reappeared earlier this season.
Town have a particularly tough test at home to Leigh on Sunday, although no doubt coach Chris Thorman will recall that one of their best performances of the season was in an honourable defeat at home to Featherstone.
The fact that Town have to send players out on loan to gain game time again emphasises how the lack of an A team/reserves set-up has such an impact. Several local amateurs who joined Town over the last two years have since returned to the community game through lack of opportunities.
Whitehaven have been in a similar position before and there is growing support for a combined West Cumbrian side at second team level. Increased financial outlay will be a likely stumbling block.
