COUGARS star Ash Lindsay admits his leg break is “gut-wrenching” but is desperately hoping to return in time to play a part in the club’s promotion assault.

The highly-regarded loose forward, 31, sustained the injury during last Sunday’s 42-10 win at Coventry Bears and is now facing a race against time to play again this season.

Lindsay was taken to hospital in Coventry after the game and his right leg will be in plaster for the next six weeks – but he is refusing to write off his campaign.

He suffered a similar setback at Workington last March which ruled him out for a period last season.

Lindsay, signed from Batley Bulldogs ahead of the 2014 campaign, said: “It was a freak accident and I did the exact same injury to my left leg the year before.

“Against Coventry I made the tackle and as I have done so, somebody else has landed on top of me and I got caught underneath.

“I tried to get up and he’s actually rolled onto the side of my leg which has broken my tibia.

“They reckon my recovery will take between six and eight weeks but I think I was only out for four weeks when I did it last time.

“We are top of the league and I had found a bit of form, so for this to happen is gut-wrenching.

“But I’m hoping to be back before the end of the season and injuries are part and parcel of rugby league.

“It’s a physical sport and I’m sure the boys will do a good job in my absence.”

Lindsay, who hails from Dewsbury, is a ground worker on the roads and his injury means he cannot do his day job.

He explained: “I’m off work on sick pay now.

“I’m going to have a few weeks off work to recover because last time I did this injury I went back to work after one week. I don’t think that helped.”

Lindsay loves life at Cougar Park and is open to the prospect of seeing out the remainder of his career at the club.

The hard-hitting back-rower, who has previously attracted admiring glances from several higher-placed clubs, said: “I’ve had interest from Featherstone and Leigh. I was at Batley for nine years and Warrington once came in for me.

“I can definitely see myself finishing my career here at Keighley, though. It’s a good crack and I enjoy being at Cougars.

“I’m hoping to be back before the end of the season and play a part in us going up because that’s what we are striving for.

“There were games we lost when we should have won but I think that we have learnt from that this year.

“We seem to be grinding out wins a lot better and there is plenty of the season left for me to return and play my part.”