Star midfielder David Armitage has undergone hernia surgery to resolve the adductor issues that have plagued his season to date and limited him to just two appearances.
The 28-year-old hasn’t played since Round 4 and has already been under the knife this season after having adductor release surgery at the end of April.
Saints GM Football Performance Jamie Cox said the club won’t rush Armitage in his return from the setback, but hopes the Queenslander will return in the next four to six weeks.
“Dave has been having a bit of an issue in the groin/adductor area. He had hernia repair surgery yesterday, which seems to have been very successful,” Cox told saints.com.au.
“We’ve listed Dave as indefinite for return. It’s really now just a matter of getting him back running.
“We’d hope that Dave’s four to six weeks away, but really now it’s a matter of getting him back up and running and hopefully getting him back as soon as possible, but not rushing him because we need to make sure that he’s right.”
Jack Newnes and Nathan Wright both sustained concussions last weekend and will undergo fitness tests at Thursday’s main training session before being declared fit for selection.
Cox said Newnes, who had his 100th game prematurely ended following a typical act of bravery in the opening quarter, is likely to face the Western Bulldogs.
“We had two boys – Jack Newnes in the AFL game, Nathan Wright in the VFL game – who both missed the back end of the games through concussion.
“They’re both recovering OK. They’re both a test for this weekend and the usual procedures apply with both of those.
“‘Newnesy’ looks likely but will need a test on Thursday. Nathan at this stage looks a little less likely; he’s been a little bit slower to recover.”
A fortnight after missing the win over Greater Western Sydney with a rolled ankle, Mav Weller re-aggravated the injury in the loss to Sydney last weekend but appears ‘likely’ to take his spot on Saturday.
“Mav Weller had an ankle a couple of weeks ago, re-damaged it in the game during the week but played out the game last week and he’s recovering really well.
“He’s likely (to play), but he will be a test on Thursday to see whether he’s up for selection this week.”
