Paul Wellens has high hopes of being able to call on Mark Percival this week when St Helens travel to Leeds Rhinos.
Percival hasn’t been seen since the loss to Hull KR in May after undergoing surgery to fix a bone spur issue. The centre went under the knife on June 10, and has missed the four games that have followed, with Saints winning all four.
However, just a month on from that operation, Percival could be set to make his return to the fold and it comes as a timely boost with Deon Cross being ruled out. The centre has been named in the 21-man squad and he has trained with the side on Wednesday.
Should he fail to report any setbacks, Percival looks likely to step back into the Saints side, with Wellens confirming as such.
“Mark has trained with us today in part of the session so we need to monitor the response over the next 24 hours,” Wellens said when asked about the centre’s fitness. “All being well, Percy will come into the team but there’s a few things they need to get covered off before that’s absolutely the case. If that’s not the case then obviously we did a great job last week without him.”
Leeds Rhinos v St Helens team news as key man returns and half-back dealt injury blow
St Helens’ Paul Wellens on Deon Cross
Matt Whitley was the man selected at centre last week in Cross’ absence, with the former Salford Red Devils man pulling out with a foot ligament issue. Wellens doesn’t expect him to be out for too long, though, with the clash against Castleford Tigers on August 1, the current return date set.
“He’s done some ligaments in his foot,” Wellens said. “We’re hopeful that after the week’s break, the following week he will be in contention.
“There’s a few things he’s got to do between now and then to make sure that’s the case, I think it’s the Castleford game is the game we’re earmarking for Deon’s return.”
On his progress as a St Helens player, the head coach added: “He’s done really well. First of all he’s settled into the environment straight away. He’s a brilliant lad to work with and I know his teammates feel the same way. He has bought into everything that we’re about as a team and I think his performances have been very good for us.
“It’s disappointing that he’s not in the team at the moment but we’ve asked a lot of him over a short space of time and I think he could benefit from a little break there before reintegrating back into the team.”
