LEIGH heaved a huge sigh of relief today when doctors cleared top Aussie Heath Cruickshank of a fractured cheekbone. The Centurions feared that Cruickshank faced another long spell on the sidelines after taking a blow round the eye socket in his first game back after a broken jaw.

The young Aussie was rushed off to hospital after Leigh's Northern Ford Premiership win at Rochdale yesterday.

The first diagnosis was a gloomy one with doctors fearing surgery but extensive examinations showed that the injury was no worse than severe bruising although the big signing from Gold Coast Chargers was badly concussed.

Devastated Leigh coach Ian Millward was down in the mouth as he said: "At the time it looked really serious but happily it's not as bad as we first feared. In all my years coaching I've never known an unluckier lad." Another bright spot was the return of skipper Craig Dean after being out for six weeks with an ankle injury.

"He's a bit stiff and sore but he looks as though he's come through OK on a difficult surface," Millward adds.

The only other worry is that Aussie Jamie Kennedy has aggravated an old ankle injury.

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