Saints suffer Lomax blow

Lomax: Suffered ligament damage in Monday’s win

St Helens have suffered another injury blow at half-back after Jonny Lomax was ruled out for up to five weeks with an ankle injury.

In-form Lomax, who switched to scrum-half earlier this season, suffered ligament damage in Saints’ 22-20 win over Castleford on Monday.

It is a major blow for coach Royce Simmons, who has seen Lomax excel in his new role, which he filled in the absence of Bath-bound Kyle Eastmond.

Simmons must also do without Scott Moore, who also suffered an ankle injury on Monday, while Gary Wheeler requires five weeks to recover from shoulder surgery.

With Leon Pryce and Eastmond unavailable through injury and illness respectively, plus promising stand-off Lee Gaskell still sidelined with a fractured ankle, Saints are missing six half-backs for Monday’s game at Hull.

Saints could, though, have prop Josh Perry back from a groin strain for the trip to the KC Stadium to take on the Airlie Birds.

However, full-back Paul Wellens and forwards Paul Clough and Chris Flannery are also currently on a very lengthy injury list.