SAINTS expect to have a fully fit squad for the start of the new season.

Winger Tommy Makinson is now recovering from the operation on his dislocated shoulder, while loose forward Morgan Knowles has had both shoulders operated upon.

Matty Lees has returned to light training after a long recovery from the surgery on his perforated bowel in August and coach Kristian Woolf expects him to be fit for the early rounds.

The reports back from the GB medical staff suggest Luke Thompson will be fit for the season start too, despite popping his rib cartilage on tour.

READ: First Q&A with Kristian Woolf>

Woolf said: “We have been getting proper medical reports from Luke Thompson and our staff are right on top of that and so too are the Great Britain staff.

"There are no dramas there. We understand at times you play with niggling injuries – the fine line is what you can play with that if it does not make it worse or if that does not affect your performance.

"If it is going to do either of those things then you can't play.

"We are comfortable with the decision GB made there and Luke was a big part of that saying he can play.

"The report that we have back is that it is not going to be an ongoing issue.

“The medical report we have at the moment is that all of our players GB will be available for round one and all available for pre-season training.

"When we get them all back in we will make sure that this assessment is right with our own staff."

Woolf expects Knowles' attitude and application to be a factor in his recovery from off-season surgery.

“Morgan Knowles has had surgery on both of his shoulders.

"I am not sure when he sustained the injury but players can carry injuries and through rehab and with programmes to keep joints strong they are able to play through them.

“But he is a bloke who is very diligent and he will rip into his rehab and be right for round one.”