Aitken has been granted a British visa

Championship club Gateshead Thunder hope to have half-back Russ Aitken available to play St Helens in the Challenge Cup quarter-final on 30 May.

The Australian grand finalist will link up with Thunder when he completes his commitments with Carcassonne after the French championship final on 23 May.

Gateshead chief executive Rod Findlay said: "At the moment he cannot be registered until 1 June.

"I hope that Carcassonne release his registration to enable him to play."

A former Australian schoolboy international, Aitken was in the Melbourne Storm side that lost to Leeds in the 2008 World Club Challenge and also played for them in last October's grand final loss to Manly Sea Eagles.

He has signed an 18-month contract with Gateshead.

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