Saints confirm Elliott and Clark will miss the start of the season

Saints winger Jamie Elliott will miss the start of the new Aviva Premiership season after suffering a shoulder injury in pre-season training.
INJURY BLOW - Jamie Elliott will miss the start of the new seasonINJURY BLOW - Jamie Elliott will miss the start of the new season
INJURY BLOW - Jamie Elliott will miss the start of the new season

The 23-year-old has undergone surgery on the problem, and according to the club will ‘miss the opening few weeks’.

Long-term absentee Calum Clark is another who will not be available for the start of the campaign, as he continues his rehabilitation from the ‘complex shoulder injury’ he suffered in October.

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The club statement continued: “The England flanker is training with the squad and progressing well, but no immediate date has been set for a return to the field of play.”

Calum ClarkCalum Clark
Calum Clark

Another player who will not be available for the season-opener against Bath in September is young centre Rory Hutchinson.

His World Rugby Under-20 Championships campaign was cut short by a significant ankle injury sustained in Scotland’s win over Australia. This has also required surgery.

There is better news on the Saints’ other players recovering from injuries sustained either at the end of last season or over the summer.

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Courtney Lawes (ankle), Tom Wood (neck), Ethan Waller (toe) and Tom Stephenson (foot) have all undergone surgery during the summer but are expected to be fit in time for the start of the Aviva Premiership campaign.

Calum ClarkCalum Clark
Calum Clark

Winger George North (hamstring) should also be available for selection ahead of the Saints’ opening game against Bath, having undergone rehabilitation with the club’s medical team after leaving Wales’s summer tour of New Zealand.

“Matt Lee and our medical team have been very busy this summer and to have so many players expected to be fit reflects the hard work that’s been put in behind the scenes,” said director of rugby Jim Mallinder.

“The players themselves have been positive and their attitude has been excellent.”