St Helens scrum-half Sean Long is expected to be out for around eight weeks after confirmation the player has broken his jaw.

The 32-year-old was taken to hospital on Friday night after suffering the injury in Saints' shock engage Super League defeat at Salford.

Long will now have an operation on Monday with a view to returning inside two months.

The former Great Britain international is to join Hull next season and there had been fears his Saints career could be over if the break proved to be a bad one.

However, Saints are hopeful Long will be fit to spearhead their end-of-season push and he could even have an outside chance of being fit for the Challenge Cup final on August 29 - if Saints get there.