SAINTS skipper Jonny Lomax could return to action the week after the England international break at the end of this month.

The experienced half back broke his hand in the home game against Leeds on 24 May and has not featured since.

Coach Paul Wellens gave an update on both Lomax and Joe Batchelor, who suffered ankle ligament damage in the same game against Leeds.

He said: "Joe is in plaster at the moment and had his surgery last week and is going to be out for eight-nine weeks, so it will be while for him.

"But with Jonny  Lomax he is likely to come back after the international break, which is obviously going to be a boost for us."

That would mean - if all progressed well - a return to action in time for the home game against Castleford on 5 July.

In Lomax's absence Moses Mbye has been partnering Lewis Dodd in the halves with Jack Welsby continuing at full back. 

Meanwhile Wellens explained that last week's blank weekend had assisted in Agnatius Paasi's return to action.

Paasi played his first senior Saints game for 10 months against Catalans Dragon after playing in the side's Reserves game at Castleford the week before that.

The breaks between games have benefited the big front rower. 

"It has been good timing for Agnatius as we have been able to get him some game time in the Reserves, then got him more time against Catalans last week.

"Then we had a weekend off to monitor his response and then put a lot of work into him on the training field again.

"He will certainly get more minutes at the weekend again (against London), but that graduation in terms of his return to play has benefited him.

"He is going to be an important player for us from now until the end of the season and it is great to see him back and to see the impact that he had on his return.

"He showed in that short stint that he had that he is going to be valuable for us."