Ben Barba cleared of serious neck injury after being stretchered off playing in Super League

St Helens fullback Ben Barba has been cleared of serious injury after being taken to hospital with a neck problem.

The free-scoring Australian sustained the injury eight minutes from the end of the Super League leaders' 60-10 win over Salford on Thursday night, shortly after completing a hat-trick.

The match was held up so Barba could receive treatment on the pitch after falling awkwardly in a tackle and he was carried off on a stretcher in a neck brace.

St Helens coach Justin Holbrook said after the match he hoped it was precautionary.

On Friday a club spokesman said they were pleased to report Barba had been "cleared of any serious injury last night after being seen in hospital.

"He will be assessed by our medical team this morning and we will issue an update later in the day."

The news will be a big relief to Saints, especially after they lost England prop Alex Walmsley with a fractured bone in his neck earlier in the season.

Barba, a former Dally M winner in the NRL, has made a major contribution to Saints' impressive start to the season and is clear favourite for the Man of Steel award.

He joined the Super League club last May in the face of stiff competition from Warrington but did not make his debut until September after being forced to serve a 12-match ban for cocaine use.

With a full pre-season behind him, the former Cronulla Sharks grand final winner has made a blistering start to the campaign, scoring at the rate of a try a game.

His first Super League hat-trick has taken him clear at the top of the try-scoring chart and he is also high on the list of try assists.