Wakefield Trinity Wildcats will be without captain Danny Kirmond for up to a month after he was forced to undergo knee surgery.

The former Huddersfield Giants second rower hurt his left knee during Sunday’s 18-16 home defeat by his old club.

“Danny is having an operation on a cartilage today,” Wildcats coach Richard Agar said. “It’s going to rule him out for three to four weeks.

“It’s a big blow because he’s become a very important player for us and we’ve not got the biggest squad.

“He’s got that line-breaking ability and he’s really grown into the captaincy.”

Agar will plug the gap for Saturday’s game against Catalan Dragons in Perpignan by bringing in either Frankie Mariano or Kyle Trout, who has been recalled from his spell at Doncaster.

Former Hull KR forward Mariano would have been the automatic choice but he has not had any game time for a fortnight.

Agar wanted him to play alongside Trout on a dual registration for Doncaster but the Championship club’s coach Tony Miller was unable to find a place in his team.

Wakefield’s only other injury absentee is threequarter Reece Lyne, who made a big impression following his close-season move from Hull FC until damaging a pectoral muscle in the win over London Broncos 11 days ago.

“We thought he had torn it and were looking at six months but the specialist is very happy that it’s starting to heal itself already,” Agar said.

“We’re expecting a two to three-week lay-off, which is better than we first feared but it’s still a blow for the kid because he was playing very well and had anchored a place in the team.”

Lyne’s absence enabled centre Lee Smith to make his first appearance of the season against Huddersfield after recovering from a broken thumb.