COUGARS club captain James Feather will undergo another head test this evening to determine whether he can return to action in Sunday’s visit of South Wales Scorpions.

The long-serving hooker was left severely concussed during a tackle in the opening exchanges of Cougars’ trip to Swinton on May 17.

He was taken to hospital and was diagnosed with post-concussion syndrome after suffering from drowsiness, headaches and blurred vision in the days that followed.

Feather has not played in Keighley’s two games since against Oldham and Barrow but he will train for the second time this week tonight and then undergo another head test.

The 31-year-old is wary not to return before he has fully recovered, particularly as Hull KR centre Darrell Goulding was recently forced to retire at the age of 27 on medical advice after suffering a series of concussion injuries.

St Helens half-back Lance Hohaia, 32, quit the game in April after being knocked out in last season’s Grand Final against Wigan and Feather said: “I’ve been concussed many times before and knocked clean out in the past.

“But this time I got post-concussion syndrome which is when your brain has taken a good rattle and it can take a while to settle down.

“It can take weeks and months – there is no timescale on it and each individual is different so I’m just biding my time at the minute.

“There is a programme you have to do before you can play again after a concussion.

“I’ve been trying to do that as well as pass a head test but when I’ve been training, I’ve still been feeling a bit light-headed and my reactions have been slower, so I’ve been failing the head tests.”

Describing the blow against Swinton which left him hospitalised, Feather added: “I got a smack on the head in the first minute, but I don’t think I was knocked out cold.

“It rattled me and when I went to hospital, they sent me home with concussion symptoms.

“Two days later, I went back and that’s when they diagnosed me with post-concussion syndrome.

“I couldn’t get out of bed in that first week and suffered with headaches and drowsiness.

“My vision was off and it was frightening, so that’s why I don’t want to rush back and get those symptoms again.

“To be honest I’ve been feeling a lot better and was pushing for the Barrow game last weekend.

“Obviously with what has happened with Danny Jones, and a couple of other players in our sport who have suffered with concussion, Keighley didn’t want to risk it.

“They said ‘no, we want to make sure you’re 100 per cent right’ because if you go back playing and you’re not 100 per cent right then your career can be finished.

“It’s like having a bruise on your brain and I have to wait for that to settle down.

“I trained last week up to full contact and was still a bit ropey, so that’s when the decision came not to play me.

“But it has all settled down and I will be training this week, and if Marchy needs me then hopefully I’ll be back playing.”

Feather admitted that watching the past two games from the stands had increased his appetite to head into coaching when he hangs up his boots in the next couple of years.

He said: “I’ve sat with Adam Mitchell and learnt from him, plus I’ve helped him to make a few changes on the field with Marchy being on the pitch.

“It will be at this level where I get into coaching anyway and I’m doing my badges at the minute, but it’s time to get back on the field now.

“Marchy and Adam Mitchell are doing a great job and I still want to play for another couple of years.”

Meanwhile, Feather and a number of former and current Keighley players are holding a 24-hour Golf Day to raise funds for Danny Jones’ family.

The event will take place at Branshaw Golf Club on June 26 and all proceeds will go to Lizzie Jones and twins Phoebe and Bobby.

Feather said: “Myself, Brendon Rawlins, Andy Shickell, Ollie Pursglove and Will Cartledge are organising a 24-hour Golf Day to raise funds for Danny Jones’ wife.

“It’s non-stop for 24 hours, so we will be playing through the night. I believe there are some balls which glow in the dark.”