SCAN results on Alex Walmsley's neck have left Saints head coach Justin Holbrook less convinced of the prop's return to the team this year.

Holbrook had previously felt more confident the England international would play a part in the back end of the campaign following a full recovery from the broken bone he suffered in his neck during a Super League match at Warrington Wolves in March.

"Alex had it scanned last week and it wasn’t great," admitted Holbrook, as he revealed a further scan will take place in a few weeks' time.

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"They want to see some more bone healing. There’s just not enough bone regrowth at this stage to let him back on the field.

"He’ll go back in another few weeks for a re-scan.

"We were hoping to get great news on that and get him back on the field early.

"That won’t happen now so we will have to wait and see again in a few more weeks’ time.

"Like I’ve said a number of times, he’s going great in training. He’s doing everything right but it's in the hands of the specialist and so it should be.

“So we’ll make sure he’s right, that’s the main thing. And as soon as he is we’ll have him playing.

"If it’s this year it’s a bonus now, whereas earlier I always thought it would be this year. Now I’m not so sure so we’ll find out in a few more weeks.”