Cooke could be heading for the exit at Craven Park

The future of Hull KR stand-off Paul Cooke is in doubt after he failed to appear in the local derby game against rivals Hull FC.

Cooke was dropped by the Robins coach Justin Morgan amid speculation that he had been sacked by the club.

However, Morgan told BBC Radio Humberside: "He came on the team bus so he has not been sacked."

But Morgan has otherwise remained tight-lipped on Cooke and refused to make a comment "one way or the other".

Cooke joined Hull KR in April last year in an acrimonious switch from cross-city Super League rivals Hull FC and served a six game ban at the beginning of the season after being found guilty of approaching the Red and Whites whilst still under contract at the KC Stadium.

After a series of disciplinary issues it could be the end of the line for Cooke who supported the East Hull side as a boy on the terraces.

Morgan axed the player ahead of Roves 44-18 defeat in the third 'all Hull' derby game of the season and refused to say whether that was as a result of disciplinary issues.

He added: "He wasn't fit for selection during the week - simple as that and I don't comment on rumours. If I get into the habit of that, I'd be busy all day.

"All I'm going to say is that the 17 players that were out there today were fit for selection and that's it - that's the bottom line."

The issue comes after a turbulent two years for Cooke, with the former England international recently banned from driving for 16 months after being found over the legal limit for alcohol.

He has also been convicted of dangerous driving and was ordered to serve 100 hours of community service following a city centre brawl.