Shannon McDonnell of St Helens out for season with snapped Achilles
Tuesday 23 June 2015 12:16, UK
Shannon McDonnell will miss the rest of the season after snapping his Achilles tendon during last week’s game between St Helens and Castleford.
The Saints’ full-back faces between four and seven months of rehabilitation, following surgery on Monday.
It is a new injury setback for the 27-year-old Australian who missed the 2013 Challenge Cup final when playing for Hull, while also sitting out St Helens’ Grand Final success of last year.
Coach Keiron Cunningham said: "He has snapped his Achilles. So we will see him next season.
"Shannon has been fantastic and justified the decision I made to bring him over. It took him a while to get going and get into the system but we were working really hard with him behind the scenes. It was making him a better player and he was in great form. I genuinely feel for him."
McDonnell's injury is the latest in a series of setbacks for Cunningham’s squad who have already lost Jonny Lomax for the season, while veteran Paul Wellens has also had a lengthy spell on the sidelines.
Tommy Makinson is injured and out of contention while fellow winger Adam Swift is in a race against time to prove his fitness for Sunday’s Challenge Cup quarter-final against Widnes.
Swift was carried off on a stretcher at Castleford on Thursday but the player was given the all-clear after being checked in hospital.
Cunningham added: "It was all precautionary. There is a chance Swifty could have had a serious neck injury and we had to make sure he didn't.
“He has gone through some light training and he should be okay. But we have got a few options. We will have a look during the week and see who drops in there but we still have a strong squad."
