PAUL Crarey is impressed with the progress Max Wiper is making as he continues his recovery from an operation on his knee.

The centre has yet to feature for Barrow Raiders this season after undergoing surgery on an issue which had been dogging him since the end of the 2016 campaign, although he is starting to be integrated back into training with the rest of the squad.

Barrow head coach Crarey has no time-scale on when he expects Wiper to be available for selection again, yet is pleased to see him making positive steps towards competing for a place in the team again.

“Max is doing brilliantly,” said Crarey. “He's starting to go on team runs and being involved. He's probably still carrying it a bit and you can see that, but he's doing the weights and he's in good condition.

“I don't know how long he would be – it's hard to tell and we're not pushing these kids, but I can tell they're getting stronger and I'm watching them now they're on the field.”

Wiper, along with long-term injury victims Matty Holmes and Bradd Crellin, is not being rushed back into team either.

Indeed, Crarey is happy for those players to take their time with their recovery, particularly with the signing of Eze Harper meaning the Raiders now have extra cover in the three-quarters.

“Their progression is getting on the field with the lads and they're doing that,” said Crarey. “Bradd Crellin is on the field with us now, but heavily-strapped, so while we're healthy we won't risk these kids because we will need them later on.”

Harper played primarily as a winger during his spell on loan with the Raiders from Leigh Centurions last year, but can move inside as Chris Fleming and Tom Loxam have done at times this year.

Brett Carter, who has struggled with niggling injuries in 2017, can do likewise, while there is also the option of putting a second row player into the midfield.

“We know where they're all at, so we need to speak to the players, see how they feel and see what combinations we are going to put together,” said Crarey, who is set to start Harper at centre for the visit of Hunslet tonight.

“We've always got the option of putting Jarrad (Stack) out there if things don't go too well, but he was a prolific try-scorer when he was here last time.

“He's got (Jamie) Dallimore, Danny Morrow and Luke (Cresswell) on those edges, so they're a massive threat because they've all got pace.”