THERE is good news and bad news for Saints on the injury front with two forwards needing surgery for shoulder injuries.
Packmen Matt Whitley and Jake Wingfield are both going to be sidelined for lengthy spells.
But there is more positive news for Saints with long-term casualty Agnatius Paasi lined up to play for the Saints Reserves at Castleford on Saturday.
The heavyweight Tongan international has been sidelined since last July when he sustained torn ankle ligaments, and an MCL and ACL from a tackle in the Challenge Cup semi-final against Leigh Leopards.
Coach Paul Wellens explained the bad news with his two back row forwards.
He said: “Jake is going to need shoulder surgery and it is going to be a 16-week injury, so we will be missing him long term.
“It is obviously not good for us but even less so for Jake himself, who as a person and as a player he has been great whenever he has played this year.
“Obviously, this injury is going to set him back.
“But like we do with all of our injured players we provide the necessary support to get him back to full health and all being well he still may feature at the back end of the season.
“It’s just disappointing for him, but knowing Wingy he will be determined once he has overcome that initial disappointment to get himself back playing.”
Matt Whitley has already had surgery to repair his shoulder.
Wellens said: “Again he is going to be 12 weeks – and that is a blow because he has had a great start to life at Saints and really settled into the group.
“It is a tough one for him to take but again that is the nature of the sport – injuries come along.”
Morgan Knowles missed the trip to Castleford with a groin injury – and it is still uncertain whether he will also require surgery.
“Morgan potentially needs surgery. We have had some injections done that we are hoping will settle the issue down.
“This week is a big week for him because we have a couple of big sessions in the next few days that he will take part in – and his response in those will determine the next course of action.”
The positive news comes in the imminent return of prop Paasi, who will feature on Saturday.
Wellens said: “We are all delighted to see him get an opportunity to get back out playing again and it is something that he is looking forward to.
“We are not going to expect too much, too soon from Agnatius. Will will have to be a bit patient with him – but to get him back is great.
“What we will do is assess his performance, see how he travels with a view at some point of re-introducing him back into the first team.
“He is going to play 30 minutes at the weekend and we have limited his time there and the next time we will extend that and then see where we are at.”
