Keighley’s Co-operative Championship One rivals, Swinton Lions, have stepped forward to help the Cougars through a serious forward injury crisis.

The Cougars have several key forwards sidelined through worrying injuries or visa problems.

Following a chance conversation with Cougars chairman Neil Spencer, Keighley received an offer from Swinton Lions chairman John Kidd to help speed up the recovery process for the injured Cougar stars.

One of Kidd’s business interests is, Physio02, a physiotherapy practice based in Walkden, west of Manchester near Swinton, and it has a hyperbaric-therapy unit. Generously the Lions chief stepped in with an offer for the Cougars to have some time in the chamber.

Basically, a hyperbaric chamber is a small, sealed unit into which higher levels of oxygen are pumped and this helps speed up the healing process for injured players who sit within the chamber.

The unit has been successfully used by some of Rugby League’s biggest names including Adrian Morley of Warrington Wolves and Paul Sculthorpe prior to the former Great Britain skipper’s retirement when they were fighting to regain fitness in time for key matches.

Cougar back rower Carl Hughes (twisted ankle ligaments) and prop Craig Brown (swollen foot) had spells in the chamber last Thursday and Friday while Scott Law (neck injury) and Karl Gunney (torn hamstring) made the trip for treatment across the Pennines.

Hughes and Brown were scheduled for a further spell of treatment in the chamber on Tuesday.

Barry Eaton, the Cougars Head Coach, said: “This just shows what a tight knit community exists in Rugby League. As soon as John Kidd heard about our problem he didn’t hesitate and offered our players the opportunity of utilising this advanced treatment.

“Although its one of John’s businesses, he knows that Cougars are a rival club and we’re both chasing end-of-season play-off spots. We really certainly appreciated the gesture and hope it speeds the guys back into fitness”.

Prop Andy Shickell who underwent knee cartilage surgery is still in the midst of his rehabilitation programme and Eaton said: “Andy’s doing well but he’s still experiencing a bit of tenderness because of the hard grounds”.

And the Cougars are still waiting to hear if their Australian Brendon Rawlins will receive his work permit in time to fly back to the UK and be considered for this Sunday’s vital Championship One home game against Blackpool Panthers (Kick off 3.00pm).

Eaton said: “I won’t name our team to play against the Panthers until very late in the week, possibly, not even until Friday evening. It all depends on the injury situation and I want to give everybody as much time as possible to declare themselves fit.

“The Panthers have proved themselves to be one of the most improved teams in the division and they beat us at Cougar Park in a pre-season game. We’re giving them the respect they quite clearly deserve”.