SELECTING Matty Russell for Super League action before his teeth are fixed would be a risk, says Warrington Wolves boss Tony Smith.

The 21-year-old full back had temporary porcelain teeth knocked out for the second time in 12 days when he copped a high tackle midway through the first half of Sunday’s 22-6 defeat to French champions Toulouse.

Russell, who took no further part in the game, also had to fly home early from Wolves’ training camp in Tenerife to receive specialist treatment after the gnashers were knocked out.

Permanent implants cannot be screwed in until the Scotland international’s gums have sufficiently settled down from the original Macgraff Leuluai high tackle that cost him his own front teeth against Widnes Vikings last September.

Smith said: “It won’t do any further damage to Matty if he plays, but the risk is you could lose him during a game like we did in the first few minutes against Toulouse.

“So it could cost you a player in a game.

“We just want Matty settled so that he can focus on his rugby league.

“It’s got to be a concern for you when you are playing rugby league and your teeth could get knocked out at any given time.”

Russell, the former Wigan and Gold Coast Titans full back, does not yet know when the permanent solution can be carried out, although he returns to see the specialist this morning.

“The ones he has at the moment are porcelain and they snap quite easily. We understand that and Matty does too,” said Smith.

“The more permanent ones have to go in after a certain amount of time, to allow the gums to settle down.

“They’ll be implants that screw in. We’re just waiting for the go-ahead for that and once he gets that he won’t have any more problems.

“We’re getting closer to his permanent ones being put in but I can’t tell you the timescale.”

Russell made more metres than any other Super League player during his debut campaign with Wolves in 2014.

England international Stefan Ratchford was handed the full back role against Hull Kingston Rovers at the weekend.