PAT AH VAN is an injury doubt once more for the North Wales Crusaders ahead of another crucial weekend in League One.

However, head coach Carl Forster says it won’t be a surprise if his vice-captain takes to the field during the trip to bottom-of-the-table Newcastle Thunder.

A facial injury looked likely to keep Ah Van out for over a month, but he was in the side that claimed an epic 34-32 comeback victory over Anthony Murray’s Workington Town last time out.

Forster told CruCast: “Pat Ah Van, he came off with a bit of a nasty arm injury. But Pat’s pretty tough, isn’t he? He plays with anything.

“I thought I’d lost him for six weeks. Pat turns around and says ‘no, I’m good to go’. He’s so tough. He’s unreal.

“With Owain Abel being out for so long now, Pat Ah Van’s stepped into Owain’s vice-captain role until the end of the season and he just gives us everything we need as a young group and he put his hand up to play, and had another great game.”

Newcastle have lost all 11 of their league contests so far this season, but Forster is taking nothing for granted on Sunday.

Crusaders will be looking to maintain their top-six spot and Forster added: “You’ve only got to look at, I think Rochdale went down there two weekends ago and won by six.

“I think at the weekend, there was a tighter game than obviously they have been.

“I said the last time we played them, they’re going to improve every single week and we’re not in a position to be resting players and trying to scrape a defeat.

“We’ve got to learn from that Cornwall game last year as well that no given result is said for.

“So, we’ll go out there with our strongest team, try to win another game... and, for me, it’s that momentum that we need to build about winning, because that Midlands game, for me, is the big one in the next three weeks.

“But, like I say... there’s no point aiming for Midlands when you’ve got two games to go.”

League One’s leading duo are both away from home on Sunday.

Leaders Oldham pay a visit to Workington Town and Keighley Cougars head south to tackle second-from-bottom Cornwall.

Elsewhere, third-placed Hunslet are at home to fourth-placed Rochdale Hornets.