Major St Helens injury update as Paul Wellens outlines timely boost

Jack Welsby is edging towards a timely return to action, St Helens boss Paul Wellens has confirmed. The full-back hasn’t featured since injuring his hamstring in July during the club’s heavy loss to Leigh Leopards.

Saints have struggled for consistency in his absence with the club winning three of its last five games. Such form ensures that with just three games to go, Saints are yet to make sure of their spot in the Super League play-offs.

Wellens’ side sit fourth in the league table, but they are just two points above seventh placed Catalans Dragons and need to finish the season strongly if they are to claim that coveted play-off spot. Buoyed by last week’s win over Huddersfield Giants, they’ll be keen to overcome the challenge of Warrington Wolves on Saturday before ending the regular season with fixtures against Castleford Tigers and Leigh Leopards.

With so much on the line, the addition on Welsby will be a welcome one, with the England international keen to make an impact.

“Jack Welsby is getting really close now, he trained with the team on the field today so that was really encouraging,” Wellens said, per Yorkshire Live.

“He has been brilliant. For the first time in his career he has probably suffered a longer-term injury like that and he’s handled it really well and has been very diligent with his rehab and everything that the physios have asked of him. On the back of it, it looks like he’s returning ahead of schedule.

“Jack’s super excited. For the first time in his career, he’s had a period of time off. If you think about his last few years, he had a full season into a World Cup, a full season into a Tonga series and never missed a game really up until getting injured at the back end of this year so it’s the first time he, as a professional player, has sat on the sidelines and watched his team-mates play so, as you can imagine, he’s champing at the bit to get back out there with his team-mates which is great for us to see.

“I think sometimes, even for a player like Jack, even though you’re not happy being on the sidelines and you’d rather be playing, having an experience like that probably reignites the fire inside you as to what it means to be playing out there with your team-mates.”