Lockett set to miss Saints' Gallagher PREM game against Bristol Bears
Tom Lockett is set to miss Friday’s game against Bristol Bears due to the injury that forced him to withdraw before kick-off at Mattioli Woods Welford Road last Saturday.
The in-form lock was on the team-sheet for the Gallagher PREM tussle with Leicester Tigers, but he had to pull out after the warm-up, with Chunya Munga taking his place in the second row.
Saints went on to lose the game 41-17.
And at Wednesday’s media session ahead of the home battle with Bristol, Dowson was asked about Lockett.
“He's alright,” the Saints boss said.
And when asked whether he would be able to feature against Bristol this week, Dowson said: “No.”
Last week, Dowson said Zimbabwe tighthead prop Cleopas Kundiona was due to see a specialist after having to come off in the PREM win against Bath last month.
Asked for an update on Kundiona this week, Dowson said: “He's improving, but it's probably a bit early for him (to play against Bristol).”
George Furbank had to come off for a head injury assessment late in the game last weekend, having been involved in a head-on-head collision with Leicester centre Izaia Perese, who has now been hit with a suspension after being shown a 20-minute red card for his part in the incident.
In the RFU’s written judgement from Perese’s disciplinary hearing, it was stated that Saints have since provided a report to confirm Furbank ‘is injury free, and has today passed his HIA 3’.
Trevor Davison and Edoardo Todaro are out for the rest of the season, but there were positive updates on the likes of Alex Coles, Tom Pearson and James Ramm last week, while Curtis Langdon has previously expressed optimism that he will play again this season as he recovers from a thumb injury.
Saints will name their team to face Bristol at midday on Thursday.