St Helens’ England hooker James Roby could be back playing within a month after the leg injury he sustained at Huddersfield Giants on Sunday was discovered not to be as serious as initially feared.

Roby is expected to be sidelined for three weeks with a torn thigh muscle he sustained during his side’s 17-16 Stobart Super League defeat by the Giants.

“It could have been a lot worse,” Saints coach Royce Simmons told a news conference. “When somebody like Robes comes off you fear the worst but it’s not as bad as we thought.”

New Zealand utility player Lance Hohaia, who took over from Roby on Sunday, will start in his place against Hull FC at Langtree Park on Friday.

St Helens will also be without winger Tom Makinson (knee) and back rower Mark Flanagan (thigh) for the visit of the Black and Whites.