St Helens: Mark Flanagan out for rest of season with knee injury

St Helens back-row forward Mark Flanagan will miss the remainder of the 2013 season with a serious knee injury.

The 25-year-old needs surgery after damaging his anterior cruciate ligament in a Super League defeat by Hull KR.

Nathan Brown's squad has been decimated by injury this season, with (ankle), plus half-backs Jonny Lomax and Gary Wheeler (both hamstring) all currently sidelined.

Experienced duo Paul Wellens and Lance Hohaia have only recently returned.

Saints captain Wellens missed a month with a calf problem, while half-back Hohaia - a World Cup winner with New Zealand in 2008 - was out for a similar period with a shoulder complaint.

Speaking about Flanagan's injury, which he suffered on 7 April, Brown told the club website: "It's a devastating personal blow for the player and adds further strain to our already seriously depleted squad."

Meanwhile, Jon Wilkin and Ade Gardner have entered Early Guilty Pleas to the charges they received in relation to offences during Saints' Challenge Cup exit at Craven Park on Saturday.

Wilkin will miss the next two matches, while Gardner will be banned for one game after both admitted performing dangerous shoulder charges.

Francis Meli, who was on Rovers winger Craig Hall in the fourth-round tie, is facing an eight-match suspension at a disciplinary hearing on Tuesday evening.