St Helens star Tommy Makinson suffers ‘big blow’ as Paul Wellens reveals injury timeframe

St Helens coach Paul Wellens has revealed that they will be without star winger Tommy Makinson for around five weeks due to a hamstring injury.

Makinson limped off the field in their 32-18 win over Hull in the Challenge Cup quarter-finals on Saturday afternoon.

And it has now been revealed that the England international is set for a five-week spell on the sidelines, but Wellens has backed his winger to bounce back stronger.

Wellens said: “Tommy is disappointed, he has got a hamstring issue there so he has gone for a scan.

“It looks like we are going to be missing Tommy for close to five weeks, which is a big blow given the fact that he was hitting some of his best form and starting to look like the Tommy Makinson we all know and love.

“It’s really disappointing but at the same time I’m confident he’ll come back strong.

“Tommy has had these setbacks before and overcome them and he’ll be exactly the same with this.”

St Helens coach provides update on Tommy Makinson and Mark Percival

The Super League champions will be without star centre Mark Percival for Thursday’s trip to Hull in Super League.

Percival, 29, failed a head injury assessment following a collision with Hull forward Brad Fash in last weekend’s quarter-final win.

Wellens added: “With Mark, he’s feeling a lot better.

“We’re taking the necessary precautions that you need to do around head knocks and we’ll see Mark to a neurosurgeon to get checked out but all being well, he will go through the mandatory concussion protocols and be fit for the game against Castleford next week.”

Wellens says the loss of Makinson and Percival are big blows, but is confident in the players who will come in to replace the England internationals.

The Saints boss said: “They are great players for a reason and have both been pivotal to the success we’ve had in recent years.

“When you miss players of that calibre, they are always going to be a loss but at the same time, in recent weeks I’ve been in a position where I’ve been leaving good players out of the side so we have a number of options there.

“Sione Mata’utia has shown how good of a job he can do when shifts to the centres. Will Hopoate is fit and available to come back in, Jon Bennison has been training so well and every time he has pulled on a jersey he has done a fantastic job for us so there’s a number of options available to us and a great opportunity for those guys that do get to step in.”

St Helens travel to the MKM Stadium to face Hull in Thursday night’s televised fixture, 8pm kick-off.

READ NEXT: An impressive XIII of Super League players whose contract expire at the end of the season