Dowson delivers Saints injury update ahead of cup trip to Harlequins

It looks likely that loosehead props Oliver Scola and Lefty Zigiriadis will be added to the injury list after they were both forced off during last Saturday's 96-42 cup loss at Saracens.

Scola had to come off with his right arm in a makeshift sling, while Zigiriadis had to be helped from the field by two members of the Saints staff and was later on crutches.

"Lefty is off to see a specialist today and Oliver Scola is seeing a specialist tomorrow," Dowson said at Tuesday’s media session.

"It's a shame for anyone to get injured.

"Lefty has settled in well, he's been a good character.

"He spent a good time at Ealing, he wanted to kick on and he's ambitious.

"Hopefully fingers crossed it's not too bad."

Chunya Munga and Sonny Tonga'uiha were due to be in Saints' matchday squad for the trip to StoneX Stadium last weekend, with Munga set to skipper the side.

But a bout of illness in the squad has meant the duo had to pull out.

And the same fate struck scrum-half Archie McParland, who couldn't link up with England for their training camp, which started on Sunday.

"He's on the mend," Dowson said, discussing McParland.

"We've had a bit of illness in the camp so we're trying to get that nipped in the bud and we're trying to look after those players before the onslaught of the season.

"It's very disappointing for Archie but I'm hopeful and fairly confident he'll get more opportunities in that space."

Alex Mitchell was not in the England squad as he continues to be managed by club and country after suffering a hamstring injury on Red Rose duty during the summer.

"He's been training really well and he's desperate to get stuck into it," Dowson said.

"He would have been disappointed to miss out during the summer because he had a great opportunity in the (Gallagher PREM) final and was fantastic considering he hadn't been playing.

"We want to get some consistency in the training level and make sure we keep him on the pitch as much as possible.”

When asked whether Mitchell will be available for the start of the PREM season, Dowson said: “We hope so.”

Ollie Sleightholme is another player who has had hamstring problems in recent times, and Saints will also continue to tread carefully with the talented wing.

"He wants to put his name down and get back to where he was a couple of years ago," Dowson said.

"He's been very disrupted by injury so we've got to make sure he gets some consistency around his training week and then gets some consistency around his performances as well.”

Tighthead prop Luke Green and close-season signing Malik Faissal continue to be sidelined, with Italy wing Faissal having picked up an injury before moving to Saints during the summer.

Trevor Davison, Edoardo Todaro and Henry Lumley are getting back up to speed after suffering serious knee injuries last season.

Dowson said: "Trevor Davison had three separate operations and he's back running but he's still a little way off as we get him reacquainted with the game.

"Edo Todaro is recovering from his ACL injury but he joined in with training fully yesterday, which was great to see from him, but we don't want to rush him back, Henry Lumley likewise. It's week by week with those guys at the moment."

Fly-half Anthony Belleau was also on Saints' unavailable list last weekend.

"Anthony Belleau has a glute strain but we're not overly concerned about it," Dowson said.

Saints will again be without their international stars for the trip to Quins this weekend but they are expected to return to action on the following Friday in the home pre-season fixture against Georgian side Black Lion.

"They're not allowed to play this week," Dowson said of his international stars.

"There's no frustration from my part because we agreed to these terms and we want to look after the players."