FORMER Saints back rower Matty Foster marked his return to St Helens yesterday with a well-taken try for his new club Salford Red Devils.

But nobody at Saints will have begrudged the former Blackbrook Junior that score after the way he has battled back from a couple of horrific years on the injury front.

After making his Saints debut towards the end of 2020, Foster was tipped for a bright year ahead in 2021 by then coach Kristian Woolf.

Unfortunately, a badly broken jaw sustained in the opening weekend of that season while out on dual registration with Leigh Leopards began the start of his misfortune.

Shortly after his return to action Foster did his ACL with Leigh at Magic - and on his return with the Saints Reserves the following year he suffered a re-occurrence of the injury requiring further surgery and a long road to recovery.

But Foster has shown resilience and determination in putting his head down and keeping going.

And although he was released at the end of last season, Foster showed some of the qualities - in his new Salford colours - that have earned him plaudits.

 

Saints coach Paul Wellens said: "He is a player that everybody within the organisation has a huge amount of respect for is Matt.

"He's someone who's had a tough couple of years with injuries, but we've all seen how hard he has worked and how much it means to him.

"For him to show the resilience that he's shown over the last few years and now see him back out on the field playing must be really pleasing for Salford but it's I think it's equally as pleasing for everybody here at St Helens as well."