By Paul Garrity BBC Radio Merseyside

Soliola has only made two appearances for Saints due to injury

St Helens' centre Sia Soliola says he hopes to make a return to the squad before the end of the Super League season after a quick recovery from a nightmare knee injury.

The 23-year-old has been out of action since March after rupturing his patella knee ligament in training, just days after the 28-18 win over Warrington at Knowsley Road.

The injury was the second Soliola faced since moving from Sydney Roosters to Saints on a three-year deal in the 2009 close-season, after he damaged his ankle on his Super League debut against Hull in February.

But it was the knee problem which dealt him the bigger blow and the New Zealand international says he remembers the day well.

We were just doing up and unders on the try line and when I was up in the air I felt something go and my leg went numb St Helens centre Sia Soliola

"I did it at training the week after the Warrington game," Soliola told BBC Radio Merseyside. "Jon Wilkin and I were having kicking and catching practice and I probably did one too many and my knee just went.

"We were just doing up and unders on the try line and when I was up in the air I felt something go and my leg went numb.

"As I fell to the ground I thought one of the boys had kicked a ball at my knee or something like that.

"Leon Pryce was right behind me and he said it sounded as though my boots had clipped together. I was just hoping it wasn't the same injury I did two years ago."

The injury was the same problem he had while playing in the NRL in 2007 and he was told it would rule him out for the rest of the 2010 season.

However, his quick recovery has seen his fitness improve rapidly and he says there could be a possibility of a return to the side before the end of the campaign, but admits those ideas may have to be put on hold.

"That's been the question at the moment and it's hard to say really," he continued. "Initially I was ruled out for the year but the recovery process I've had this year has been really good.

"The specialists have been saying my knee has been unreal. So I can't say I'll definitely be back, but there could be a slight chance.

"But it's just how I feel with it and how quick I can get my fitness back. At the end of the day it could be dependent on what our physio says. He monitors me day by day and he'll see how my progression is going."

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