SAINTS coach Kristian Woolf said retaining the services flying Welsh winger Regan Grace is a high priority for the club.

The 24-year-old, who will return to the side for Saturday’s trip to Toulouse, is out of contract at the end of the year and able to talk to other clubs.

However, having secured Matty Lees and Jack Welsby on three-year deals last week, coach Woolf confirmed that they want the flank flier to stay.

Woolf said: “We are very hopeful of Regan Grace staying. That is what we want and we have made that really clear.

“Deep down I think it is what Regan wants as well, but there are a few things we have to sort through and we will hopefully have some answers on that in the next week or two.

“He has been really unlucky with his injuries, having been a bloke that has not had many before.

“This is the longest period Regan has had on the sidelines and that has been really frustrating for him.

“One thing I can guarantee to people is that he is an extremely popular and a very high priority for us as a player we want to keep at the club.

“That is everyone involved at the club; from players to coaching staff to management.”

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Grace missed the start of the campaign having required surgery on a bicep injury sustained in training – and then he damaged his hamstring on his return in the Challenge Cup at Whitehaven.

Woolf has been impressed with the diligent way Grace has approached his rehab and his looking forward to him lighting up the second half of the Super League campaign.

“He is extremely dedicated to the club.

“What I see from Regan Grace and the way he has gone about his recovery and his rehab this last few weeks means that we will get a very committed player back this weekend.

“I would be very confident that he will finish the year strongly,” Woolf said.

Saints will also get Will Hopoate back this week, and that leaves the coach better placed to slot players into their natural positions after much chopping, changing and shuffling – particularly since Easter.

“We have missed Regan – and the last few weeks we have had Mark Percival on the wing, who has been outstanding, but he is still the best centre in the competition and we would rather him play there.

“Sione Mata’utia is the best back row and we would rather him play back row rather than centre.

“Regan’s return allows us to put players back in their right hole and is also a terrific player and a specialist winger and he is going to help us in a lot of ways for those reasons,” Woolf said.