Jonny Lomax set to make second St Helens comeback from knee surgery

St Helens have moved to allay fears over the future of full-back Jonny Lomax, saying he is set to make his comeback from a second knee reconstruction in the early part of the new Super League season.

The 25-year-old, who was included in England coach Steve McNamara's training squad last year, missed the second half of the 2014 season with knee damage that required major surgery and he suffered a similar injury at Wakefield last March.

Saints coach Keiron Cunningham admits Lomax has been in "a dark place" but says the player is determined to silence those who doubt his ability to make a full recovery.

"Rugby league can be fickle and as soon as you are away from the limelight, you can be on the trash heap," Cunningham told his club's website.

"That is just the way it goes but I'm sure Jonny will change a few of those opinions when he is back running around the field and setting up a few tries.

"Coming back from back-to-back knee recons is hard and he has spent a lot of time on his own. People can be critical and hurtful but, if they saw what he did, they might feel differently. He starts at 6am and finishes at 5pm, in the gym, to get himself fit.

"He is well ahead of anybody I have dealt with for professionalism - it is phenomenal. He is a pleasure to work with and I'm sure he will be back with a bang. He is fit and light years of where he was last time he came back.

"Originally, the surgeon said it would be a 12-month recovery. He is four to six weeks off now so will miss a game or two and then we will filter him back in."