SAINTS will assess later in the year whether Jonny Lomax will need surgery on his ruptured bicep – but for the time being coach Kristian Woolf is happy with the way the experienced half back is functioning.

England coach Shaun Wane said last week that Lomax is still very much in his World Cup plans despite him playing with the significant arm injury.

When Lomax first sustained the injury – in the Salford game the week before Saints’ cup semi-final – there were fears that that would be a good chunk of his season over with.

It came a week after Saints had lost half back partner Lewis Dodd for the season – ratcheting up the responsibility on his experienced shoulders.

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But Lomax had dealt with it with trademark toughness, defiance and a couple of metres of extra strapping with a series of brave but classy performances.

On the question of possible surgery, coach Kristian Woolf said: “That is one we will have to look at as the year goes on and as we get to the end of the year.

“There are a number of things it depends on, among them how he is functioning.

“At the moment he is functioning really well and he’s getting better with every game.

“That is going to continue and be backed up by some scans that we can look into at the end of the year.

“That is one we will get around when we get there and I would certainly back Jonny.

“If you look at what he has done, it’s a significant injury – one that most players would not be able to do what Jonny has done this past six or seven weeks, and certainly not what he did directly after that injury.

“It is a real credit to him as a person and a player, his commitment to the team and his teammates.

“The level of trust we all have in Jonny is extremely high and I would certainly back him to be in a position to play at the end of the year but it going to need to be looked and made sure it is right.”

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The Super League Grand Final in on 24 September with the World Cup beginning on 15 October 15, with the final on 19 November.

Woolf added: “Jonny is a tough man – and has had a lot of disruptions in his career, injuries and lot of things he has had to deal with.

“I don’t think I have seen a bloke with as many scars.

“It is a real credit to him that he is still playing the footy that he is and is still at the top of his game.

“He is a tough fella and he will just get on with it. It has not affected his game at all.

“His intelligence, toughness and his competitiveness is helping him – he may not be known for it but he is one tough competitor.”