Kristian Woolf has revealed Tommy Makinson will miss around two to four weeks after hobbling off in the victory over Huddersfield Giants last week, but hints that Morgan Knowles will feature on Monday.
Makinson was making his first appearance since the Super League Round 3 victory over Wakefield where he picked up a foot injury, but lasted just three minutes.
And despite Woolf admitting the injury is in the same area in his foot, he did reveal that Tommy does not require surgery.
Woolf said: “It is not quite the same injury as what he has just come back from, but it is in a similar area. Overall the news is pretty positive considering what we thought he might have done and what it has ended up being.
“That is going to be in the vicinity of two to four weeks.”
Morgan Knowles, who is yet to feature this season after under-going surgery on his thumb, is expected to return for Monday’s Salford clash – the first in front of supporters for over 14 months.
Woolf continued: “I would expect Morgan to play the next game.
“It is great to have him coming back because we have had a few going out. I have no concerns over Morgan’s fitness and physicality and how he will play his first game. He is a special player in that sense in that there are not too many who work as hard and play with that level of intensity and toughness.
“Although he has not been able to do all pre-season, it is his thumb that has had surgery on, so he has been able to do all the running.”
There is also some positive news on Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook, who went off in the same game with a head knock, but is expected to be fully fit for Monday’s clash with Richard Marshall’s Salford.
“Louie is fine. He was not able to go back on against Huddersfield because he stumbled when he played the ball – and under the rules that is an indication of concussion so was not allowed back on the field.
“He passed all of his tests and recovered really well. We have a long turnaround until the next game [against Salford], so that works in his favour and he’ll be 100 per cent fine,” Woolf said.
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James Bentley revealed on social media last week he had successfully undergone surgery on his broken leg he sustained in the victory over Leigh and Woolf gave an insight into his recovery.
Woolf said: “The surgery has gone really well and there was a little bit more positive news than there could have been. It is still going to be a lengthy recovery – somewhere in the vicinity of 14 weeks.
“Knowing James he is going to be really diligent and he will come back in just as good condition and ready to hit the ground running because he is that kind of guy.
“But it is a lengthy one, he is not going to play a lot for us this year. But he will make it back for the back end of the season and he will be available for finals footy.
“There are some real positives from that point of view.”
Hear more from the boss tomorrow as he previews the game against Salford on Monday as well as gives his thoughts on the return of YOU – our fans as Saints host Salford at the Totally Wicked Stadium with kick off at 7.45pm. The game WILL also be on Our League for all members who were not drawn out in the ballot.