St Helens boss Paul Wellens is hoping to see Lewis Murphy return to action in the not too distant future.
Murphy has been missing since the Saints’ loss at Hull KR at the end of the May, with the winger picking up a quad issue while trying to score a try at Craven Park. He has sat out the month and a half since that trip to east Hull alongside Jack Welsby, who suffered a knee injury in the same game.
However, the winger is closing in on a return to action and could be set to miss just one more match after Thursday’s home game with Leigh Leopards. Murphy still has plenty to do in order to prove his fitness, but the trip to his former club Wakefield Trinity on August 8 has been pencilled in as a potential return date.
“We have no game following this weekend and then we play Castleford and Wakefield,” Wellens said when asked by Serious About RL about the winger’s fitness. “I think the Castleford game may come too soon for him but potentially the Wakefield game after that. There’s certain things that Lewis has to complete with physios.”
St Helens v Leigh Leopards team news as key forward makes return
Of course, even when Murphy is fit, there’s no guarantee that he will play, with Kyle Feldt and Owen Dagnall doing such a good job on either flank at present. The pair have helped Saints win their last five with Dagnall, who only made his debut for the club this year, scoring five tries in that run, including the only effort of the game last time out against Leeds Rhinos.
“Owen has done a brilliant job since he came into the team and all the teams that I’ve been involved in at this club that have been successful, as a player or coach, always had really healthy competition for places,” Wellens added.
“That really does drive standards more than anything and what Owen has done there is give us a really strong option in the outside backs which puts pressure on other players to work their way back into the team, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
St Helens boss on James Bell
James Bell will be looking to make his long awaited return to action this week of course, having sat out since April with a foot injury. His return comes a big boost for St Helens.
“Belly has been working hard for the physios, he’s been out for 12 or 13 weeks, it may even be longer, so it’s good to have him back in the fold,” Wellens said. “He’s started to integrate fully with the squad and if you cast your mind back to when he was in the team you can see what he brings to us when he’s fit and at his best. We’re looking forward to having James Bell back.
“We’ve got a number of players out and Belly has been one of those who I know are working so hard behind the scenes with the physios to get back to full fitness. I know how frustrating that can be for those players who see the team out on the field every week and want to do all they can to be out on the field helping the players.”
