SAINTS' powerhouse Atelea Vea sustained medial cruciate ligament damage to his knee in Friday's Challenge Cup defeat against Leeds and faces another spell on the sidelines.

The Tongan back rower had only returned to action the week previously after four months out of action with a shoulder injury.

Vea hobbled off in the second half, and will now be sidelined for anything between six weeks or until the end of the season.

But Keiron Cunningham seemed confident that he would play before the year is out.

He said: "Tils has had a scan and we are not going to see him playing for a few weeks.

"It is not good for us as a club because we will miss him, but its not good for Tils' head because he has been sat on a sidelines.

"He came back in, and was brilliant against Hull KR and really changed the game against Leeds and then unfortunately he just got the injury.

"It is tough – as a player when you are out and he has been in a really dark place for 16 weeks. He has come back and feels like he is part of everything again.

"You feel for him."

With the next seven games spread over an eight-week period before the play off semi finals there is every chance that Vea could be back in the fold for the back end of the Super 8s.

Vea has already tweeted; "Thanks for the nice messages over the weekend. Back in the gym for a few weeks and get this knee right for a strong finish!"

Cunningham backed the former London Broncos forward to come back with a bang.

"Things like this make your character and he will come back bigger and stronger.

"It is like Percy's injury - he was out for seven weeks and Tils is not as bad and he is a good healer, so hopefully he will be back," he said.