Cunningham to miss a month

St Helens hooker Keiron Cunningham will be out for up to four weeks due to a minor knee operation.

The veteran former Great Britain international was injured in the engage Super League leaders' win over Celtic Crusaders last week.

The 32-year-old will now undergo surgery this week in the hope of returning to action ahead of the Carnegie Challenge Cup semi-finals.

Coach Mick Potter said: "He'll probably be out for three or four weeks.

"He's been just about ever present apart from one and has really done the hard minutes, starting the games, showing what a leader and a good player he is. He has been enormous, a real asset and has made us rock-solid for most of the year so far."

Saints legend Cunningham is in the last year of his contract at the GPW Recruitment Stadium and is yet to decide whether he wishes to play on beyond the end of the campaign.

Cunningham has made 458 appearances for his hometown club and scored 167 tries. He is bidding to reach a ninth Challenge Cup final this year, a figure second only to Shaun Edwards' record 10.

Potter added: "It'll be up to Keiron. There is a possibility he could still do another year. At some point he will have to decide he is going to call it a day but whether that is this year or next is up to him."

Centre Matt Gidley could also be out for two weeks with a quad strain but Leon Pryce is in contention for Friday's trip to Salford despite a similar problem.