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St Helens centre Michael Shenton has targeted a return to training in time for the commencement of his club's pre-season training programme.
Shenton dislocated his elbow in Saints' Grand Final defeat to Leeds last month and the initial fears were that the bone would have to be pinned, which would have ruled the former Castleford man out for the start of the 2025 season.
But further diagnosis suggested that the injury isn't as bad as first feared.
"It is coming on and is not too bad. It is the best I could have hoped for really. They popped it back in and a couple of days later I saw the consultant who went through the small details and told me there was no fracture," said Shenton, who would likely have been involved in England's Four Nations campaign had it not been for the injury.
"It is out of the sling now and it is just a case of building the strength back up really. It is a massively important joint and you can't do anything without your elbow. But I can start training now - running and can also lift light weights."
Saints are now planning to bounce back from this year's Old Trafford heartache, and Shenton believes that the lessons learned by the young players will stand the teamin good stead ahead of its latest challenge.
"We have motivation, because we know we could have won itthis year," he added. "But the young lads will have learned so much from being involved in the big games. You learn from that - especially the Wigan games and the Grand Final."
Saints are4.50 to win next year's Grand Final while Wigan can be backed at 3.75, Warrington at3.75 and Leeds Rhinos at 5.50.
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