Saints forced to wing it

Gardner: Sidelined

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St Helens face a major injury problem down the flanks for their match with Harlequins at Knowsley Road on Friday.

England international Ade Gardner is out for three to four weeks because of shoulder damage sustained in Saturday's 32-28 win over Catalans Dragons in Perpignan.

The former Barrow player has been ever-present so far this season and has missed only six matches for his club in the last three engage Super League seasons.

Left winger Francis Meli is also doubtful with an abductor problem and youngster Tom Armstrong, who deputised for the former New Zealand international for the first four matches, is nursing a shoulder injury, so Mick Potter could be forced to field a side without a specialist winger.

"We have lost Tom Armstrong with a shoulder problem and Jamie Foster is on the mend with medial ligament damage so there will be a little bit of juggling about this week," Potter said.

Decisions

"Gary Wheeler could play on the wing with Lee Gilmour on the other side perhaps. We have some decisions to make.

"Kyle Eastmond will be in the reckoning too but it is all about where he fits in. It is important we have versatile players at the moment.

"It is just one of those things really and we will cope because the lads that come in are all good rugby league players. It is a big ask of them of course, but they will be fine."

Saints also have a doubt over prop forward Bryn Hargreaves, another ever-present this season, because of a knee injury.

But Potter can take some consolation in the fact that England back row forward Jon Wilkin is set to return after a three-game absence with a knee injury.