I agree but I think he was responding well to it. When did he last drop a ball for example? Seems like weeks ago. While his kicking is inconsistent, he has pulled off some beauties; same with his passes. He's been looking more and more the part with each week. Long time to go, obviously, but considering he was thrown in at the deep end with only 1.5 first grade games last year, he has done terrifically well.

Meanwhile, assuming he can keep fit, we will now get to see what Wheeler can do at 6!

When you think we have our 2 'starting' halves out in Pryce and Eastmond and now Gaskell who is a replacement half is injured. It's amazing we still have 2 half's in the quality of Wheeler and Lomax on the pitch.

I agree. But this is all we have left now! It's a bit scary. I hope they can both stay fit otherwise it looks like Wilkin will end up getting another run in the halves.

He who shall not be named is always 'available'.

Not over Easter. He has a chest infection.

Yeah, he was out with that last week too so it must be coming to an end, unless its really bad. You don't see many chest infections lasting over 2 weeks. Although, next week he might of left his boots in his mum's car or something.

You cynic, you!

I've got a chest infection at the moment, yet I've still been going the gym. Kyle's a soft sod.

There's a genuine possibility!

Or he may have a twisted sock, wouldnt really want to run the risk of throwing him in against the goons , in derby games your commitment and attitude are even more important than normal games and the goons would target him

Without a doubt I would keep him away from the Wigan game, but if Wheeler or Lomax pick up a knock it would be likely to see him against Cas. I do however feel almost certain that he will play against Sheffield in a couple of weeks.

I agree, but was trying to look on the bright side of his injury.

His long kicking could be a real asset for years to come, someone posted that they were impressed with how often he found the floor between fullback and winger, but even when he doesn't, his boot is so big, the receiver is taking it over their shoulder going backwards.

He's not as quick or penatrating and Lomax or Wheeler when he runs, but I think as he gets more superleague experience, you'll start to see him [ighosting[/i though the line every so often.

The only problem I see with Gaskell is he isn't able to create gaps for himself and occasionally his defence. His kicking and distribution are excellent though.

He doesn't have the ability as say Pryce, Lomax and Eastmond (even Wheeler at times) as halfbacks to dazzle the opponenets, create a gap and go through it. He relies on running through gaps that are already there. His defence has been somewhat lacking at times too.

However, he's only young and there's plenty of time for this to improve so I'm not knocking him at all. I can see him going on to play in the style of somebody like Deacon who tends to distribute and kick rather than take on the line.

See the last part of my post. I think when he's a bit more used to the pace of SL, you'll find him getting through gaps more often.
As for his defence, it looked shakey against HKR, but the rest of the time he's looked eager enough in defence and when he gets a bit more meat on his bones, he'll have a fair bit of weight behind him.

Fair enough, I've not seen him for the academy so I'll take your word on that one.

As an outsider looking in I've been really impressed with Gaskell. He reminds me very much of a younger Paul Cooke - great distribution and good kicking game but perhaps unlikely to really take the line on. That stopped Cooke from ever being really top class.

Tom Armstrong now has a groin injury. Maybe being back at Saints made him jealous of Perry and Pryce and he thought 'I want one of those'.

He saw the sun shining and fancied topping up his tan! But his absence would explain why Makinson got his half debut last week and is probably on the bench this week.

From reading an article in the St Helens Star online, it seems that Paul Clough is having real problems. It looks like he will need an operation but they have to wait for the nerve damage to 'relent' before he is able to have the operation.

Leon Pryce's return has been put back to a further eight weeks away as he is not healing as quickly as expected.

Josh Perry is apparently a week away from returning.

Flannery is expected to be out of action for about three weeks and Lee Gaskell about five weeks.

Spoke to a member of the medical staff I know, Clough is in danger of missing the majority of the season if he has to have the op. They don't know if he'll have to have the op before the nerve settles down.

What on earth did whichever Leeds player it was do to Clough's shoulder? He's hardly missed a game in years and yet that one tackle has brought his season to a halt.

He put his head into the tackle wrong which is why at first they thought he'd only be out for a couple of weeks with a 'stinger'. General muscle damage around the shoulder. They then realised that the nerve's had also been damaged but thought that would be settled by now. So it looks like bad nerve damage and after a CT scan he has soft tissue damage which is why he may need an op.

Ouchie!!!

Gaskell has taken the line on plenty of times this year, he did it more when Eastmond was in the team and he wasn't the main kicker, but he does attempt it. I've no worries about him on that score.



Makinson has played four times from the bench this year.

www.saintsrlfc.com/news/page/772 Armstrong - groin injury (out of easter period) Eastmond - chest infection (out of easter period) Perry - groin injury (Back for Hull game) Nathan Ashe - Jaw injury (2 weeks) Flannery - hamstring strain (3 weeks out) Gaskell - Fractured ankle (5 to 6 weeks) Pryce - groin injury (8 weeks) Forster - shoulder injury (12 weeks) Clough - shoulder damage (unknow return date) Fit to play, but carrying injuries: Graham (sternum) and Magennis (dislocated finger, broken nose and calf injury). Ouch!

www.saintsrlfc.com/news/page/772 Armstrong - groin injury (out of easter period) Eastmond - chest infection (out of easter period) Perry - groin injury (Back for Hull game) Nathan Ashe - Jaw injury (2 weeks) Flannery - hamstring strain (3 weeks out) Gaskell - Fractured ankle (5 to 6 weeks) Pryce - groin injury (8 weeks) Forster - shoulder injury (12 weeks) Clough - shoulder damage (unknow return date) Fit to play, but carrying injuries: Graham (sternum) and Magennis (dislocated finger, broken nose and calf injury). Ouch!