THE building blocks to Saints’ 2019 campaign are being put in place at the Cowley training ground and gym.

New boys Lachlan Coote and Kevin Naiqama have both joined pre-season training as Justin Holbrook’s coaching staff and Head of Strength and Conditioning Matt Daniels put the squad through their paces.

Apart from England test players Jonny Lomax, Mark Percival, Tommy Makinson and Luke Thompson, France international Theo Fages and new NRL recruit Joseph Paulo, the whole of the first team squad has returned to training after an off-season break.

Paulo arrives in England early next week, and the whole squad will be back in training on Thursday.

Skipper James Roby and wingman Adam Swift, who have both undergone surgery in the off-season on shoulder injuries, are fit and training well.

So far Saints have just one pre-season friendly - Jonny Lomax’s testimonial match against Hull FC on January 19.

Usually Saints go with two warm-up matches, with the first involving the whole squad, but there is no sign of that being arranged yet.

Saints will kick off the Super League season with a 1 v 2 clash against Wigan on January 31.