NATHAN Brown is looking forward to the return of Paul Wellens this Friday.
Saints face Salford City Reds at Langtree Park on March 22 with the Club’s Head Coach expecting ‘Mr St Helens’ to feature.
“Wello will return and he’ll be playing somewhere for sure,” he said. “A lot depends on the fitness of the squad as to where that will be. Wellens’ number one thought is the team; he has always played here and wants to do the best for it.
“With Jonny Lomax doing so well he is happy to play his part and it is credit to him that he is not so single minded.
“That makes my job easier too. The fact that even though he achieved what he has in the game and a position can become sacred, he has put the team first and is happy to play wherever as long as the team is doing well.
“Jonny looks up to Wello as do all the younger players and they should. Wello is ultra-competitive and that is a trademark all the top most capped players have.”
Wellens’ return is a timely boost for Saints who will be missing James Roby for a minimum of a month as well as Anthony Walker.
The captain will be back alongside Tony Puletua and Ade Gardner who both seem to have shaken off knocks.
There is no word on Josh Perry though but Adam Swift is likely to get a game in the next week or so after a pre-season beset with injury.
“We’ve given opportunity to a number of young forwards,” Brown added. “They have been in the system for a number of years and know what is required. They are coached well and that system keeps the club going.
“Alex Walmsley is ticking over and improving each week. The more he plays the better he will get. At times last Friday we had a number of young players on the field at similar times and it was a good learning curve for them.
“Mark Percival has had a taste of it and will play soon too. We also have other youngsters to come in as well. Some are training with us at present and may get a game or two. You find out more about them when they train with the first team. They are Super League players of the future.”
Tickets for Friday’s match against Salford are now on sale from the Ticket Office at Langtree Park, by calling 01744 455 052 or by logging on here.
