WOLVES back rower Jack Hughes will be out of action for eight weeks after breaking a bone in his hand.

Hughes suffered the injury early on in last Thursday’s 40-10 win over Wigan but managed to play on until the end.

However, he now joins the likes of Chris Sandow, Dec Patton and Jack Johnson on a growing long-term injury list at the Halliwell Jones Stadium.

Head coach Tony Smith admitted Hughes’ injury was a blow but that it represented a chance for others to step up in the coming weeks, starting with Saturday's Challenge Cup tie with Oldham Roughyeds.

“Jack Hughes broke a bone in his hand in the first tackle the other night and his hand is now in a pot for six weeks,” he said.

“Once that comes off it will be another two on top of that before he can return to playing.

“Of course it’s a loss as he’s had a superb start for us but it’s an opportunity for someone else to come in.”

Smith also gave an update on other players who picked up injuries in Thursday’s game, including Tom Lineham, who went to hospital after a heavy hit from Wigan’s Tony Clubb, and Ryan Atkins.

“Tom Lineham is symptom-free at the moment but he still needs to pass a head test so hopefully he can play on Saturday,” he said.

“Ryan Atkins hasn’t fractured his finger but he has ruptured a ligament.

“We’re hoping it won’t need surgery but we’ll have to see how it settles down in the next couple of weeks.”