Breakout youngster Jake Davies and centre Nene Macdonald are likely done for the year at St Helens with interim coach Eamon O’Carroll issuing a comprehensive injury update.

Speaking on Thursday, one day before Saints’ crunch clash against Leigh Leopards, O’Carroll explained why both Macdonald and Davies were not in the 21-man squad, as he suggested that neither man will play any more this season.

For Macdonald, it’s a familiar issue with O’Carroll confirming: “Nene’s got an issue with his knee, so he won’t play probably. I think he might have been in a position to play, but we’ve decided not to there.”

On his chances of playing next week against Hull KR, O’Carroll added: “I think he’ll be done.”

As for Davies, he said: “Jake is really unlucky. He’s just had a little bit of an issue with his leg. He’s been complaining of just a bit of an issue with his shin.

“We’ve ended up managing that and he’s been good, I think his performances have backed that up, but he’s starting to struggle in the week so we’ve just got some investigation done there.

“It’s probably too technical for me to explain, but there’s a little issue there where we have to offload him for a little bit, so he could be a couple of weeks.”

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O’Carroll admitted that may mean Davies is done for the year, however, he explained the importance of diagnosing the problem now, stating: “The positive to that is we’ve found out at the right time so it didn’t become a bigger issue.

“I think what’s important is I don’t want to put someone like Jake who’s 19 or 20 years of age in a position where it’s going to be detrimental for his future, and his immediate future is next year and impressing under a new coach, so we’ve decided to take him out of that.”

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St Helens boss explains forward absentees

St Helens will hand out a debut to Oscar Knox on Friday night and their squad is littered with youngsters, particularly in the pack where they’ve lost Daniel Suluka-Fifita (suspended) and Alex Walmsley (concussion protocols).

On Walmsley, who passed his HIA but later displayed symptoms, O’Carroll said: “He’s being looked after… there’s protocols there, those sort of decisions are taken out of the players’ hands and the club hands, you have to follow the protocols.

“Al passed his test, but had a few delayed symptoms, so we’ll just go through that process now and see how he is.”

Another experienced forward who remain unavailable is Curtis Sironen and O’Carroll confirmed that the Australian is still recovering from the after-effects of his knee infection that’s ruled him out since round 19.

He said: “It’s an infection in his knee. He spent a couple of weeks in hospital there and naturally lost some weight, it’s about building him back up and getting him back to his fighting weight, which with infections can be tricky as well.

“We’ll go through a very similar process like we are with Al, we’ll look after him and when he’s ready to go he’ll be ready to go, we’re not too sure when that is though.”

Noah Stephens update issued

There was also an update on forward Noah Stephens, who has not played since the away game against Castleford back in May. The club’s most recent update came in June when then head coach Paul Rowley confirmed that Stephens’ recovery could be ‘measured in years’, highlighting the severity of his injury.

Rowley would reveal that the young forward was suffering from nerve damage, even confirming that Stephens could not drive as he didn’t have full movement in his arm.

Offering an update today, O’Carroll said of Stephens’ recovery: “That’s an ongoing process. Unfortunately, there’s not really too much clarity within that, what I can say is if anyone wants some sort of reassurance that Noah is doing really well.

“He’s coming in, he’s got a smile on his face, obviously he’s got a fairly significant injury there, but most importantly as a person he’s doing well and he’s got some great support around him which is fantastic.”