IT will feel like a new signing when Lewis Dodd runs out in the red vee this year after being out of action with an Achilles injury since Easter.

The 20-year-old scrum half is back in full training – and so far has shown nothing but positive signs in his recovery from one of the sport’s toughest injuries.

With Dodd back in the ranks, partnering Jonny Lomax at six, it will give Wellens the option of reverting to the spine that started last year so successfully, allowing Jack Welsby to get comfortable at full back.

The timing of Dodd’s injury last year was unfortunate – with Saints missing the zip, organisational skills and short kicking game of the livewire number seven when he was struck down in April, particularly in the early days of Lomax’s bicep injury.

The flip side of that is that it means Dodd has had the best part of nine months to rehab and recover, and Wellens is liking what he sees at the moment.

Wellens said: “When you miss a player of Lewis’ quality for such a long period it is like gaining another player.

“Lewis is back in full training and beginning to look more and more comfortable as the weeks go by.

“I am sure that progress will continue – there are no issues with Lewis.

“Our medical staff are really good in putting programmes together to build these players up and put them back in a position where they can perform at a high level again.

“It has been a long process with Lewis since he injured his Achilles last Easter. What that has afforded us is time and what we have been able to do is take a bit more of a cautious approach.

“He has got that spring in his step and he looks confident out on the field and he feels confident.

“There have been no signs whatsoever of any discomfort or any problems and we are happy with where he is at.”

Saints’ injury cloud last term did afford one silver lining – that have enabling some of the younger players to step in and grab their chance.

That has added depth to the squad going forward and demonstrated a degree of versatility within the ranks.

“Through the experiences of last year some players got an opportunity that they were not expecting, like Ben Davies and Jon Bennison.

“It has actually made the squad stronger when you reflect on it.

“There is a lot more versatility than we thought we had and can cover a few more positions in different ways, which is always good going into a long season,” Wellens said.