IT has been a meteoric rise into the first team for Saints scrum half Danny Richardson, who was this week named in the Super League Dream Team and the England Knights squad.

The 22-year-old Widnesian grabbed the number seven shirt off the experienced Matty Smith in February ­— and has not relinquished it, playing and scoring in every game.

He is now 80 minutes away from running out at Old Trafford, home of his favourite football team.

He said: “I just focused on as training as hard as I could and if I got in the starting team then it was my job to stay there. Justin give me a chance and we managed to win the first game.

“I said to myself afterwards that if we kept on winning and I worked hard and did my job then there was no reason why I would be taken out of the team. That is pretty much how the year has gone and I am very grateful.”

His partnership with Jonny Lomax has paid off so far, with the two complementing each other, with Ben Barba chiming into the attack off the back

“The first time I partnered Jonny was in that first game and I feel as the year has gone on we have become accustomed to each other and moulded to how each other play.”

“There have been some games where we have led the team around to score 60 or more points – we feel comfortable playing with each other. Jonny is a class act and an England international.

“Jonny is a deep thinker but I know some people look at me and think I’m not but at the end of the day I am as much a winner as anyone else. If I have a bad game it can be at least three days before I get out of my mood. People don’t see that side of me, but like I said, myself and Jonny work on the pitch and that is the main thing.

“If you get two halves who are similar to each other it can go against you. You have to find a middle ground and it is tough to find one that just clicks. We were lucky; we clicked and know where each other is going to be.”

“Hopefully Thursday’s game isn’t like the last one which really went down to the wire. We have won three times this season but we know that doesn’t count for anything. We will be making sure, come Thursday, that we are preparing for them at their best, because that is what they will be brining.

“We are under no illusions; those games mean nothing anymore, they are done and we will be fully focused on getting the win and moving on to the Grand Final.”