England received some good injury news with long-term absentee Stuart Broad revealing he was ahead of schedule in his return from the stomach injury he suffered during the second Ashes Test in Adelaide.

BBC: England call up Liam Plunkett as cover for ODI

Yet he said he believed Chamberlain could return, because he had seen him plow through injury rehabs ahead of schedule before.

WSJ: Joba Chamberlain Bounces Back

Hodgson returned to the Giants line-up, a fortnight ahead of schedule after being sidelined with a calf injury, but he produced an unusually slipshod performance which characterised his side's overall display.

BBC: Huddersfield Giants 4-60 Warrington Wolves

That is because the lockout-shortened 66-game schedule has teams playing about four games per week instead of three, which has slightly increased the injury rate.

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