SAINTS this week confirmed the worst fears that Matty Foster will need to have ACL surgery again after damaging his knee in his comeback game.

The young second row had only come back from ACL surgery after sustaining the original damage playing for Leigh in last year’s Magic in September.

Unfortunately he suffered the same injury while playing for Saints reserves at Castleford at the end of July and will now go through the repeat process of surgery, recovery and rehab.

Coach Kristian Woolf said: “Matty has done his ACL and he is going to require surgery.

“It is devastating news for Matty first and foremost, but for everyone involved with him – his teammates and staff.

“The reason we are all gutted for him is that he is a great kid who works really hard and has done for the last couple of years to keep overcoming adversity and keep overcoming injuries to put himself in a position to play.

“He has done that exceptionally without any moans or missing a beat. He keeps putting himself in a position to play.

“Sometimes our sport can be a cruel game and lead to some really bad luck – and that has what has happened in this instance.”

The 21-year-old suffered an horrendous 2021, breaking his jaw in the opening round while on dual registration with Leigh – and then damaging his knee in September.

Although he is out of contract at the end of this season, Woolf said Saints “will sort something out” when asked about his contract.

“We are certainly going to support him and help him – and he will be in a position where he is given every opportunity to get that right and get back on the field and be a Saints player and that’s certainly what we hope he’s going to be.

“We are going to sort something out,” Woolf said.