Mark Percival timeframe revealed as Saints boss provides update

St Helens coach Paul Wellens has revealed they will be without star centre Mark Percival for around a month with a hamstring injury.

The 28-year-old didn’t feature in Saints’ 28-6 win over rivals Warrington a fortnight ago after suffering a hamstring strain in training earlier that week.

Wellens revealed that Percival also had a clean out of his knee during the international break.

The Saints coach said: “Mark Percival had a hamstring strain which is going to be a five to six-week injury but with that, we’ve also taken the opportunity to have his knee cleaned out as well.

“He was struggling with his knee a little bit so it has given us the opportunity to do both.

“Mark’s continuing now with his rehab and he is still looking at that five to six-week mark from when he injured it.

“The sooner we can get a player of Mark Percival’s calibre back on the field the better, but he’s with the physios and doing his work.”

Transfer window now open

The date of May 1 has now passed, meaning Super League clubs are now able to make signings for next season after the opening of the transfer window.

Players can now sign for clubs for 2024 and clubs can now look to bring players in for next year.

On the recruitment window opening, Wellens said: “Conversations have been ongoing for some time with myself, Mike Rush (chief executive), Eamonn McManus (chairman) and the board of directors in terms of where we want to move forward.

“Obviously that is largely about retention, keeping our better players here is what we like to do but also looking at recruitment and looking at holes we need to fill. Those discussions have been ongoing for a while.

“Once you get past this May date, things start to snowball a little bit and you start to get some more movement. Like every team, we are looking to improve for next year and discussions are taking place around where we can do that.”

All roads lead to France

Next up for the Saints is a trip to the south of France to take on Catalans Dragons in Friday night’s televised Super League clash.

Saints head in to the game on the back of a 28-6 win over Warrington, whilst the Dragons have lost the last three games – but Wellens isn’t thinking about form.

Wellens added: “We’ve had some really tough battles with Catalans in recent years. We know them at their best are a really strong side.

“I suppose like any team and like ourselves, you go through periods in season where you are playing well and other times you are not quite getting it right and Catalans have had a bit of both this year.

“We’ll be preparing for them at their best. Like ourselves, they’ve probably got a few influential players coming back in to their squad as well so that will only improve them.”

READ NEXT: Key trio boost St Helens ahead of trip to Perpignan