Barrow Raiders head coach Paul Crarey had some bleak team news ahead of Sunday’s game against York City Knights, as he revealed Stargroth Amean has a torn muscle in the back of his injured knee.

Amean suffered the damage during what was eventually deemed a dangerous tackle by Swinton Lions’ Gavin Bennion, who was given a two-match ban by the RFL the following week, in Raiders' 30-12 defeat at Heywood Road.

The 28-year-old is set for a scan to determine the extent of the problem, but he is now certain to miss Barrow’s clash against the Knights at Craven Park.

It’s unclear yet as to whether the Papua New Guinea international will be able to play again this season, but his absence will be keenly felt, as he’s been one of Raiders’ most consistent performers since being switched to the centres in May.

Crarey said: “We’ve had a little bit of an update on Star and he needs to go for a scan on a torn muscle on the back of his knee now because there is a definite tear there.

"It’s bad news for us after the tackle by Gavin Bennion, which he’s been penalised for, but we’ve lost a player as well.

“Hopefully he can pull through - we’ll have a look at him on Thursday, but it’s not looking good.”

Crarey will have to change his half-back pairing against York with Jamie Dallimore serving a one-match suspension and Lewis Charnock facing a long recovery from the double fracture he suffered to his jaw.

Charnock only returned to the side in the match against Swinton after completing a eight-game ban for his dangerous tackle on Sheffield Eagles’ James Glover and he’s now set for another long lay-off, although this one isn’t of his own doing.

Crarey said: “He’s going to be missing now until the end of the year and we’re probably looking for some bodies to declare themselves fit this week.

“Lewis has been unlucky this year and last year he got a bad injury that kept him out again, so in two years he hasn’t had a lot of game time, really.

“I spoke to him last night and he said that he must be the most unlucky man in the world to have missed as much time as he has.

“To have come back from suspension and within one game he’s been busted up.”