Parramatta halfback Chris Sandow has been ruled out of Sunday’s NSW Cup match for Wentworthville due to a shoulder injury.

The former South Sydney playmaker was ordered to play reserve grade for the Eels’ feeder club against Canterbury after a disappointing start to the NRL season following his big-money move from the Rabbitohs.

Sandow had hoped to return to see his family in Queensland, with the NRL taking a break this weekend due to representative fixtures, but was named to play for the Magpies by coach Stephen Kearney.

However, the club’s medical staff believe the AC joint he strained the defeat by Cronulla last Sunday has not healed sufficiently for him to play.