YOUNG Saints packman Matty Foster is getting plenty of support on his way back to fitness following back-to-back knee surgeries.

It is a long way back, but coach Paul Wellens reports that Foster is getting through his re-hab with a smile on his face although it will be June or July before he returns to action. 

The second row forward originally sustained the ACL injury whilw playing for Leigh in the 2021 Magic game - this after breaking his jaw in week one of the campaign.

Unfortunately he suffered the same injury while playing for Saints reserves at Castleford at the end of July and has undergone further surgery and is now on recovery and rehab.

Although he was due to be out of contract this year, Saints have stood by him and he an opportunity to get back on the field in the red vee.

Wellens said: "It has been tough for Matty – but I have got to pay him huge credit with the way he has gone about his recovery.

"It can be a lonely place sometimes in rehab, but he comes in every day with a smile on his face and commits to his work.

"Sometimes through setbacks you can build up a huge resilience and I think that is what Matty has done in recent years and has handled tough times really well.

"And the resilience he has built up off the back of that will serve him well in the future.

"We have a pretty strong group who support each other and Jonny is someone who has experienced those tough times as a young player."

That support does not simply come from the coaching and medical staff.

The fact that veteran half back Jonny Lomax continues to producing outstanding seasons in the red vee after he too had two years wrecked by back-to-back ACL injuries in 2013-14 shows there is light at the end of an often dark, lonely tunnel.

Wellens added: "It is all well and good me as a coach or the medical staff speaking to Matty Foster and doing what we can to help him.

"But when you have someone like Jonny, who has had similar experiences but has gone on to achieve the successes he has off the back of those setbacks, it can be powerful for Matty to hear that from Jonny."

Foster is expected back in the summer, June or July, but there will be no impatience from any quarter - player or the club.

"He has had a pretty serious setback there and like a number of players we are not going to be doing anything silly and rush – the most important thing is that once Matty is fit and healthy he will get on the training field, stay robust and fit and then put himself in a position to take the playing field.

"It is important to look after the lad to avoid any further setbacks."