Francis Cummins has described Adam Sidlow’s injury setback as a “massive loss” after the Bulls prop was yesterday ruled out for the rest of the season.

The close-season signing from Salford and Matty Blythe were struck down by knee injuries during the defeat to Wigan in the Bulls’ last outing.

Sidlow will undergo surgery and be out for 12 weeks, while on-loan Warrington centre Blythe will miss the next four weeks.

The double blow is a major setback to the Bulls’ hopes of reaching the play-offs for the first time in five years.

Cummins said: “Adam’s been to see the specialist and will need surgery.

“Any loss to a squad of our size is massive and Adam has done well because he came in quite late to us and didn’t really have a pre-season. He’s grown in confidence and is growing within our systems.”

Sidlow has proved a popular and effective member of Cummins’ squad and missed only two of 23 matches in his first season with the Bulls.

The Bulls will also be without Blythe for Friday’s home game against Hull FC after he also sustained a knee injury in the 26-20 defeat at Wigan.

Cummins, who has ruled Blythe out for a month, was angered by the “cannonball” tackle he says caused the injury but will let the matter drop after lodging a complaint with the Rugby Football League.

Cummins added: “I said at the time I wasn’t sure how Adam’s injury was caused but Matty Blythe has definitely had a direct contact with his knee from behind.

“I got feedback from the RFL but there was no action so obviously that must be legal.”

However, the week off caused by the Challenge Cup quarter-finals has enabled most of the Bulls’ other injured players to recover.

Full back Brett Kearney, half-back Jarrod Sammut and forwards Jamie Langley, Chev Walker and Tom Olbison could all play on Friday.

"It's unfortunate we've lost another two players but, apart from those, we've more or less got the rest of the squad available, which is something we haven't had all season," said Cummins.

Challenge Cup semi-finalists Hull will have stand-off Daniel Holdsworth back after missing the last two games with a calf injury.

Meanwhile, the Bulls will hold their latest fans' forum next Thursday at 6.45pm in the Coral Stand, where Cummins, Omar Khan, Gerry Sutcliffe and Robbie Hunter-Paul will answer questions from supporters.

The forum will be prior to the Under-19s' game against Huddersfield, which kicks off at 7.30pm.