Widnes head assistant coach Stuart Wilkinson has praised the side's young players for getting the club through a difficult period of injures.

Despite their problems on the field the Vikings are fourth in the Championship table, only seven points off top spot.

"We've had teenagers running around, playing in the pack," Wilkinson told BBC Radio Merseyside.

"They've probably been out experienced and out sized but never out manoeuvred or enthused. They do some nice things."

Widnes face second-placed Leigh on Thursday after their tough 64-10 defeat to Wigan in the Challenge Cup on Saturday.

And the Widnes coach says he is pleased that the experienced members of the squad will return over the coming weeks at a crucial time in the season.

"Bringing our big guys back for the next month, with the Northern Rail Cup and in this very difficult period for us, is very well timed," Wilkinson continued.

We've got a couple of little things we can hurt Leigh with and we'll look after them till Thursday Stuart Wilkinson

"The spirit's high and the moral is good. We've galvanised them and had to roll up our sleeves up and deal with anything anybody throws at us.

"We're probably a little more limited than Leigh are at the moment and we've got certain players missing. We'll have to be a bit predictable in our approach and be straight-forward.

"But we've got a couple of little things we can hurt them with and we'll look after them till Thursday."

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