KRISTIAN Woolf's message to Jack Welsby is to 'keep doing what you're doing'.

The 20-year-old, who has started the season where he ended 2020 with his fine form and Grand Final heroics, is certainly giving his boss a tough call in moving him away from left centre to allow for the return of England international Mark Percival.

And with the rest of Woolf's regular backline all fit and playing, it is a question of where Welsby slots in when the call is made that Percival, who has been named in the last two 21-man squads, has fully shaken off hamstring trouble and is ready to be recalled into the 17.

The former Blackbrook junior produced some key moments in the second half of Friday's 34-6 victory over Wakefield, scoring one try, setting up two for his winger Regan Grace and winning possession from a Saints long kick that led to deadlock being broken through Kevin Naiqama's 43rd-minute try.

“Every time I get asked about Jack I say he’s outstanding," said Woolf after the game.

"He’s starting to become a really consistent player at this level and he does all the little things well and that’s why he got rewarded at the end of last year like he did because he works so hard and tries so hard.

"Now he’s really starting to show his class and have that confidence that he can show his class on a regular basis as well.

"I love what Jack’s doing. He’s terrific whatever position we put him in.

"He can play full-back and is very comfortable there and that’s probably where he’s most comfortable.

"Through the course of last year and certainly this year as well he’s certainly become more and more comfortable at centre. He certainly looks at home there enough, I think, and we know at a pinch we could throw him at five-eighth or on the wing."

Woolf said he still has to work out how he will fit both Welsby and Percival in his team.

He said: "Jack’s very aware of how we can use him a little bit differently at times.

"At some stage we’re going to have to make a decision over who our left centre is and where players fit in.

"One thing I do know is that we want both Mark Percival and Jack Welsby in the team and that’s something I’ll have to figure out at some stage. And when that time comes I’ll figure it out, I suppose."

Because of Welsby's form and utility value, questions are being asked if he should be among 39 other members of the England squad preparing for the Rugby League World Cup at the end of the year.

Woolf said: “He’s in the England Knights and that obviously says that he’s on the radar, and whether that’s for this year or for down the track I’m not really sure.

"He’s a 20-year-old bloke, who had a terrific year last year and made a winner of every opportunity he was given particularly as the year went on and got more and more confident at this level.

"And what I’ve been really impressed with is that he’s come out this year and done exactly the same thing – wherever we’ve played him he’s made it a winner.

“He’s showing more maturity and a real confidence of belonging at this level. That’s all he needs to concentrate on and if he keeps doing that then other accolades are certainly going to come.

“Right now he needs to worry about where he fits in for St Helens and continuing to do a good job wherever we put him, as he has done."

Woolf has previously spoken about Welsby gaining a good grounding by playing in various positions, in a similar way that assistant coach Paul Wellens did when he was starting out, and he has repeated that he feels this is the best thing for his continued development rather than him being restricted to one spot.

“They’re conversations I’ve had with Jack and conversations that will be ongoing in terms of how we continue to develop him and where we see his best position for the club going forward," said Woolf.

“Right now, what I do know is that the best way to develop Jack is to give him Super League opportunities, and wherever they turn up I think that’s really good for his development and for his understanding of what’s required in different positions.

“It’s a conversation I’ve had multiple times with Paul Wellens, who was obviously a great full-back not only of St Helens but of the competition.

“It was exactly what he did early in his career. He played a number of different positions in the backline, he played hooker and 13 at different times in his career as well.

“I think it certainly helps to be a better all-round player and to have the better understanding of where you fit in and how you play your position when you do settle into one as well.”