Hull KR captain Mick Vella out for up to six weeks

Hull KR captain Mick Vella joined the Robins from Parramatta in 2007

Hull Kingston Rovers captain Mick Vella faces up to six weeks on the sidelines following knee surgery.

Vella, 33, suffered medial ligament damage in Sunday's 27-14 Super League defeat at Castleford.

Robins coach Justin Morgan told BBC Radio Humberside: "It's fairly good news and could have been a lot worse.

"We're most probably looking at up to six weeks but it could be less than that depending on how quickly he recovers," Morgan added.

The former Australian Test prop has had knee problems in the past, having missed the opening two months of the 2009 season when he picked up an injury in the opening day draw at Bradford.

But, with influential half-back Michael Dobson sidelined until mid-May, Morgan is trying to put a positive spin on the loss of another key player.

"Mick generally comes good when the pitches get a bit firmer," said Morgan. "So, when he does come back, hopefully that'll be the kinds of track that he really likes to play on.

"On the flip side of that, as everyone most probably knows we've got Willie Mason in the squad now so that'll bolster our forward pack.

"Rhys Lovegrove's back this weekend as well and obviously Joel Clinton didn't play last week so we've certainly got the stock there available to bring into the team to make cover for him.

"Ideally we'd like Mick to be playing but we're fairly well covered in that area."