CALLUM Bustin is ready to return to the Bulls fray as they consider another dip into the loan market.

The borrowed Castleford forward has missed the last two games with the shoulder injury he suffered against Hemel last month.

Bustin failed a late fitness test to feature at Whitehaven but John Kear has confirmed he is back in the reckoning for Sunday’s clash with Doncaster at Odsal.

But the Bulls coach is also eyeing another temporary reinforcement to his ranks.

Kear said: “We’re hoping to bring someone in on loan for a month. We’re obviously a little bit short of middle-unit players.

“But the heartening fact is that Callum Bustin is fit and will be returning. We’re in decent shape but we’ve got challenges in front of us.”

Elliot Minchella is recovering from the head injury which forced him off in the Whitehaven win but is not allowed to feature this weekend because of RFL health considerations.

Kear said: “The return to play protocol is eight days so Elliot can’t be considered.

“He’s had to have two complete days rest and he came in yesterday afternoon for his initial assessment. Then it’s a gradual return to play.

“We’ll look after him because he is such an important member of the team.

“He was a bit groggy on Sunday on the bus back but that was to be expected. He wasn’t knocked out for a period of time, just a very brief one and the medical staff were tremendous.

“We think he’ll be okay but obviously his focus will have to be Coventry and not this week.”

Otherwise, Kear reported a clean bill of health from the victory in Cumbria which has maintained the Bulls’ two-point advantage at the top.

“A tough, physical game and then a three-and-a-half hour journey home is not the best recovery strategy,” he added.

“We’ve got bumps and bruises and stiffness and soreness but it’s what you expect after that. I’m pretty certain it will be a very representative team that turns out on Sunday.”