Heart attack victim Purtell hoping for all-clear to play for Bulls

The 28-year-old Australian has not played since suffering a heart attack in the aftermath of Bradford’s Magic Weekend defeat by Leeds at Manchester’s Etihad Stadium on May 27 last year.

But he resumed training in
November after being cleared of any permanent damage and is due to see a London specialist 
today expecting to receive the green light to return to action.

“Adrian sees the specialist (today) and he could well play some part in the game on Sunday,” said Bulls head coach Francis Cummins.

“It would be remarkable to see Adrian back. When it happened, you thought that would be it – both for his real life as well as his profession – but all credit to him.

“He has come through some tough moments, but on the whole he has been very positive.

“It would be great for him, great for the club and great for the game to see him back.”

Bradford also expect to have back-row forward John Bateman back to face Rovers after he underwent a shoulder reconstruction operation in the close season.

Huddersfield Giants’ second row forward Jason Chan has been ruled out for between six to eight weeks with torn knee ligaments.

The Papua New Guinea international suffered a grade two medial ligament tear in last Friday’s 32-8 win at Leeds.

Sheffield Eagles have signed former Wakefield prop Ben Gledhill on loan from Salford City Reds.

The Eagles moved for the 23-year-old after losing Liam Higgins with an ankle injury and he could debut tomorrow in the Kingstone Press Championship match against Featherstone Rovers, a repeat of last year’s Grand Final which has been switched from Bramall Lane to Don Valley Stadium.

Hull FC centre Kirk Yeaman has been ruled out for six weeks after scans revealed he broke his thumb in Friday’s 52-0 win over Castleford.

The 29-year-old England international damaged his hand diving on a loose ball and underwent surgery yesterday.

Hull will also be without Danny Tickle for Saturday’s game at Huddersfield through suspension after he took an early guilty plea to punching during the game against the Tigers.

Castleford duo Weller Hauraki (one game) and Justin Carney (two games) have also been suspended for their part in Sunday’s brawl at Hull, but home forward Mark O’Meley was cleared of punching.

Widnes Vikings’ Gareth Hock was handed a one-match ban by RFL chiefs last night for using foul and abusive language to a match official against Bradford last Friday.