Bradford Bulls have ruled prop Nick Scruton out for three months after being told he needs a shoulder re-construction.

The 27-year-old former Leeds Rhinos forward sustained the injury in last Saturday’s 36-24 Stobart Super League win at Hull KR and a visit to a specialist last night confirmed his worst fears.

Scruton, who missed three months of last season with a dislocated wrist, will undergo surgery tomorrow and will miss the next 12 weeks of the season.

It is the latest in a series of blows for the Bulls, who lost second rowers Ian Sibbit (shoulder) and James Donaldson (knee), prop Craig Kopczak (broken finger), scrum-half Luke Gale (ankle) and winger Elliot Kear (broken wrist) with major injuries in the first six weeks of the season.

Bradford football manager Stuart Duffy said: “It’s another blow for us and we are certainly under the cosh as far as injuries are concerned but we will stick together and play with the cards we are dealt with.”

The Bulls are also without half-back Jarrod Sammut through suspension for the visit of St Helens to Odsal tomorrow.