St Helens skipper, Paul Wellens will be out of action for a month after succumbing to a calf injury. The 32 year-old picked up the knock during Friday's draw at home to Hull and looks set to miss two vital matches against Leeds and Warrington. "We've got some blokes in key positions that have missed games, which doesn't help when you're trying to get some flow," head-coach Nathan Brown told BBC Radio Merseyside. READ MORE ON THIS STORY....

St Helens skipper, Paul Wellens will be out of action for a month after succumbing to a calf injury. The 32 year-old picked up the knock during Friday's draw at home to Hull and looks set to miss two vital matches against Leeds and Warrington. "We've got some blokes in key positions that have missed games, which doesn't help when you're trying to get some flow," head-coach Nathan Brown told BBC Radio Merseyside. READ MORE ON THIS STORY....

Wellens has missed very few games in his career.
It won't do us any harm to give a youngster a run in his shirt.

Well well; Saddens wish has come true, no Wellens for at least a month.So; who does he recommend takes his place at fullback, I am sure he will have been planning this situation for at least two years. Let's hear it Saddo and we will see if NB agrees.

I literally can't wait to see Saddened's response to this.

Heard on the grapevine that Lomax will be 1. Don't know about scrum half though.

Wilkin into the halves with Gaskell and Lomax at 1.

Anyone know how Lomax is under the high ball ?

Is Lance back yet? a number 1 slot is there for you.

Out for another few weeks yet. Makinson or Lomax is the answer for me.

Well it's been on everyones mind that we needed to at least give a run out to someone other than Wellens at FB. I think the last time he was out Eastmond got a run at FB. That's 2 years ago.

For the sake of less moving about, I'd go Makinson to full back ans Gardner onto the wing, but I know people have been saying Lomax to full back and Wilkin to 7. It'll be interesting to see what Brown goes for.

Adam Swift to fullback for me.

Reasons being.
Half back combos are built. We need to let Lomax and Gaskell to continue their eduction together. Swapping and changing halves upsets the balance and momentum of a side. All great sides have settled half backs.

Makinson needs to continue his development on the wing. I dont think he provides a long term solution to replacing Wello at fullback. Rationale being that fullback is one of the four key creative positions on the field, the others being the hooker and the two halves. Therefore you need someone with good footballing skills to play there. Swift being an halfback/fullback by trade has these skills. Makinson has only shown an ability to run reasonably quickly in a straight line, and finish in the corners. He hasnt shown a particular talent for being able to read a game well.

Makinson and Turner need to continue together to help build their understanding on the pitch.

Putting Gardner and Turner together would degrade the pace significantly on that threequarter line as Turner would need to slow down on a break to allow Gardner the opportunity to catch up. Thereby negating the advantage Turners pace gives us. Similarly opposition wingers know that Gardner cant score from any distance, this means they can double team on Turner, and take the risk that if Turner gets the ball to Gardner that one of the second rowers would be able to cover back and tackle him.

Swifts injured aint he?

Not aware of any injury especially considering he hasnt played any games yet.

I like all that reasoning.

The only thing that would sway me the other way - to Lomax at #1, is that Wilkin seems to be playing as a half anyway, so if he's going to do that, we may as well give him the shirt, let Lomax take up the attacking birth out wide and let us pick an extra forward?

Really though, I long for the magic of Lomaskell to return, so would like us to work on that.