The fullback issue is a real nightmare for next season. With two players out with career-threatening injuries it's impossible to make any kind of firm plans. Even if both come back fully fit we've kind of boxed ourselves into a corner over where either will play if the other gets the fullback slot. I think McDonnell can play on the wing quite comfortably. But whether we'd be getting the full benefit of his talents on the flanks I'm not sure.

It strikes me that McDonnell prefers to hunt down the centre of the field. His footwork and support play are a real help for us given that both Turner and Percival really are ploughing a lone furrow down their respective channels.

I can't see him ousting either Turner or Percy, not least because he's fairly lightweight and we're already as close to as light as we can be in that position.

If McDonnell gets the fullback role the only option for Lomax seems to be hooker. That is unless Walsh's leg is irrecoverable and he's forced back to the halves as a temporary measure.

And I've not even begun to think about the nightmare scenario of both failing to recover fully, breaking down in training or needing an extended period to regain confidence...

I have said on here a few times, Danny Richardson is a natural footy player and probably the best prospect in the club. Being a halfback is even better.

Richardson looks a very good player, and Rob Fairclough has looked good when I have seen him. I'm not as convinced as some on here about Morgan Knowles though. In my admittedly limited viewing of him he hasn't really impressed.

Knowles is Imo to good for u19s now and needs a extra challenge of maybe going out on loan (I know deadline has passed) but he's a good athlete.

I know Grace is getting first team contract next year and Id imagine Wellington will also.

There is no limit but you can only really have so many players in the first team squad and give each player a fair chance of making it.

Assuming Hewitt and Fozard out while Hagerty, Knowles, Richardson, Grace, Wellington, Nzoungou and Bailey in, that would take the squad size to 34 which is already a big squad.

There are others in the u19s that would appear to be worth a contract as well. You can see why the club is screaming out for a second team competition.

Can anyone provide a list of who has been offered a pro contact for next year?

Grace and Nzongou are rumoured on here? Saints usually put out a news report about those promoted later in the year - a couple of years ago we announced signing Dawson bundled in with it!

Lomax
Makinson Percival Turner Swift
Burns Walsh
Amor Roby Walmsley
Greenwood Vea
Wilkin

Tasi <another prop signing> Thompson LMS

Bailey
Grace Dawson Wellington Fleming(?)
SMD Richardson
Richards Charnock Savelio
Peryoux Davies
Knowles

Nzongou Haggerty Ashworth(?) Fozard(?)

Only 4 in the second team who haven't made their debut yet... Few question marks over some though and whether theyll still be here

Levy is clearly being fast-tracked. But it's important to remember he's only been at the club a few weeks. Difficult choice whether to bring him up early.

I've been one of a very few who was happy with Dawson getting another couple of years as he's cheap and a good stand in...however, I'm open to changing my mind and I'm kind of wishing we'd have brought one of these younger lads through instead.

We seem to be producing really good kids these days.

Unless Dawson finds some form very quickly he'll be completely out of the picture next season.

All I know is that there are now quite a few current under 19s players that are training with the first team. They are:

Grace
Wellington
Richardson
Knowles
Spedding
Levy
Bailey

I don't know if they are going to get a first team contract for next year, but they are all training with the first team right now.

Apart from Wellington, they all have one year remaining at under 19s level.

IMO he is our best prospect from the current under 19s squad. All I can say is that you must of seen him when he was having a bad day at the office. That can happen to any player.

I've seen him play plenty of times and he is well on his way to first team action.

I did a depth chart of the squad next year (I was bored at lunch

).

It shows pretty much what you have shown above. We have a lot of backrowers and not a lot of half backs (again). I know we have a lot of good kids and our squad is big but the club needs to get Adam Quinlan on a deal for next year. He is so dynamic, covers a number of positions and you can see him as a long term solution in the halves given he is still a young man.

We started the season with Lomax, Wellens and Hohaia so I don't see why we couldn't have Lomax, McDonnell and Quinlan in 2016.