MacDonald out of Leeds Trophy tie

Captain MacDonald picked up his injury against Esher

Leeds Carnegie captain Mike MacDonald is out of Saturday's National Trophy quarter-final at Birmingham & Solihull with a knee injury.

The American prop has failed to recover from the problem but fellow front rowers Tom McGee, Pete Bucknall and Juan Gomez are all available again.

Director of rugby Andy Key told BBC Radio Leeds: "Mike picked up a large haematoma on top of the knee.

"But Peter and Juan have recovered a week quicker than we first thought."

Leeds had been searching the loan market to ease their front-row injury crisis but with McGee, Bucknall and Gomez now available again the need for such a signing has been greatly reduced.

The medical and conditioning team have worked wonders with the guys

Andy Key

And Key added: "A loan could still happen but it is much more unlikely now.

"We were pursing the opportunity to bring someone in but that was always on the basis of how our injured players progressed.

"The medical and conditioning team have worked wonders with the guys and with Pete and Juan recovering a week or so quicker than expected there is now a good chance we won't need the loan player now.

BBC Radio Leeds will have reports of Birmingham & Solihull v Leeds Carnegie on Saturday from 1400 GMT on 103.9 FM and online at bbc.co.uk/leeds.