Cunningham back to boost Saints

Cunningham back to boost Saints

St Helens coach Mick Potter believes the return of club legend Keiron Cunningham will make a big difference to his team this weekend.

The former Great Britain hooker, who is retiring at the end of the season, has missed Saints’ last five Engage Super League games with a toe injury but should play at Warrington Wolves on Saturday.

The 33-year-old’s return is timely with Saints facing Leeds Rhinos in the semi-finals of the Carnegie Challenge Challenge Cup next weekend.

Potter said: “I don’t want to take anything away from what James Roby has done over the last couple of weeks – and Scott Moore – but Keiron is a big player for us and has been for a long time.

“He’ll be an asset for us at the weekend.

“He’s been itching to play. He wanted to play last week but just wasn’t right.

“He knows he needs to have a run out (ahead of the semi-final), whether it’s just to get his place back in the team or to participate in a big game.”

Matt Gidley is likely to miss out with a quad injury but Chris Flannery and Andrew Dixon could be in contention for the trip to the Halliwell Jones Stadium.