Saints assessing Pearson injury ahead of Gallagher PREM game at Bristol Bears

Pearson was not involved in last Friday’s league opener against Newcastle Red Bulls, though he was also not on the unavailable list.

And when asked for an update on the 26-year-old at Tuesday's media session, Saints boss Phil Dowson: "He's got a problem with his hand, which we're trying to get more information on, so hopefully he won't be too long."

Dowson confirmed the hand issue is 'associated' to the problem Pearson was battling towards the end of last season, having initially been forced to come off during the Investec Champions Cup quarter-final defeat at Bath in April.

Pearson suffered a broken bone in his hand during that match and had feared he would not be able to play any further part in the 2025/26 campaign.

However, after a period of rest and recovery, he was able to return to action from the bench in a 94-33 Gallagher PREM win at home to Bristol on May 15.

Pearson then went on to start on four successive weekends from May 30, including the PREM play-off semi-final and the final, which Saints won at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham.

Speaking about the hand injury at the end of May, Pearson told this publication: "I initially broke it, which I kind of suspected, and then got another hit on it after trying to strap it up, which arguably made it worse.

"The physio did a quick test on it, it made a funny noise and then he radioed the doctor to say it was broken so that was the end of my game (at Bath).

"I was more worried about tackling (than picking up the ball), so I couldn’t have carried on.”

He added: "Someone told me that evening that I might have to have a pin in it, which could have meant that would have been the end of my season, in terms of recovery.

"I was very fortunate I didn’t have to, but I kind of feared the worst."

Pearson continued: “I was lucky I didn’t have to have an op, so it was just a case of having it in a cast for a couple of weeks and then slowly get my strength back.

"I’d been icing it loads then putting it into a bucket of dried rice and getting my grip strength through that by grabbing it and squeezing it, which built back up the muscles and strength in my hand.”

Pearson took to wearing a hurling glove to protect the hand.

He explained: "A lot of people think is a bit of a fashion statement but it’s actually just to protect my hand.

"It’s a hurling glove which has quite a hard outer case made of hard plastic, so that gives me a bit of extra protection."

Pearson has played one competitive match for Saints so far this season, scoring in the PREM Rugby Cup defeat at Harlequins on September 12.

He was wearing the hurling glove in that game but did not have it on during the pre-season win against Black Lion at DPD Stadium at Franklin's Gardens six days later.

Pearson put pen to paper on a new Saints deal on Tuesday morning, which was a huge boost for the black, green and gold.

Boss Dowson said: "It's brilliant news to have him sign on again.

"To have him pledge his future to us is huge and we're delighted.

"He's been consistently exceptional for us.

"He's a physical freak but also has great game understanding, good skill level and he's a good team-mate around the place as well.

"I can't speak highly enough of TP and I'm delighted that he wants to stay part of the group."