SAINTS expect scrum half Luke Walsh to be fully fit and back in action in April.

The Australian number seven has not played since breaking his leg and damaging his ankle ligaments last July.

After initially hoping the star man would be back for the start of the season, medical staff explored a different route that will hopefully mean that when he returns it will be for good.

Cunningham said: "He could not back his day's training up and was not feeling comfortable. There was a lot of irritation with the screws and plates in his leg, so I said to the medical staff 'Let's speak to the surgeon and explore getting everything taken out and let it just be a normal leg.'

"We have a long season ahead of us and I don't want him playing a game and then missing two.

"I would rather miss a few at the start of the year and go on from there.

"We had those taken out two weeks ago and the specialist said six weeks maximum. So It looks like he is going to miss March.

"He will start training with the team next week, and will be back full training apart from contact, and then we'll await the all clear from the x-ray. The fracture is fine and fully healed and the ankle is now good.

"All it is is a couple of pin holes where the screws have come through the bone. A general fracture takes six weeks to fully heal, so a couple of little holes should be two or three weeks.

"So he will be flying when he comes back.

"I have never seen him as happy now he knows where he is going."

On further injury news Mark Percival will be sidelined for six weeks after damaging medial knee ligaments, while the club are seeking a second opinion on Jonny Lomax's knee injury.

Cunningham said: "We will get a second opinion on Jonny's scan and move on from there.

"It is the same knee as last year but until we get that opinion we can't say anything more. He is an influential player so will be a big loss for the period he is out.

"Percy will be out for a few weeks. He is in a knee brace at the moment but we're hoping to have him back in around six weeks.

"Mark Flanagan has had surgery on his eye. He wants to play desperately but player welfare is key.

"It would be selfish of me to push him forward because that might do permanent damage that could hinder his livelihood in the future."

James Roby returns after resting a sternum injury, with Kyle Amor back following a two match suspension.