SAINTS coach Paul Wellens will bring Morgan Knowles back into the side for Friday’s derby with Wigan after missing seven of the last eight matches through suspension.

Wellens described Knowles, who was sent off for a high tackle late in the Challenge Cup tie at Halifax, as dealing with one of the most challenging periods of his career – declaring that he needs to be “much better” than that incident.

However, he recognised that 26-year-old loose forward has been a key asset to Saints’ in his nine seasons at the club, playing pivotal role in helping the side win four titles in a row.

Wellens said: “It has been a disappointing period for Morgan and probably one of the most challenging periods of his career.

“I thought the five-game ban that he got for the incident at Wigan was a little unfortunate for him and there were a lot of factors around that which led to it being a bit of an unfortunate accident.

“However, we deal with the situation that he found himself in.

“He knows himself that the incident at Halifax, he needs to be much, much better.”

On his return he will work in tandem with James Bell, who has stepped into the 13 role with good effect this season with his short passing game adding an extra string to Saints’ attacking bow.

It would seem likely that Knowles would start to deal with the early physicality that is part and parcel of a Saints v Wigan clash, with Bell spelling him to work gaps in the tiring defence.

That seems even more likely scenario given Knowles last came off the bench in July 2018, with coaches from Justin Holbrook, Kristian Woolf and Wellens all recognising his strengths in the heat of the early battle and his ability to keep going.

Knowles’ aggression, work-rate, kick pressure and those one per centers have been a key part in helping Saints sides get on top of the physical battle to win the games that matter this past five seasons.

There was once an accusation that Saints’ pack had too soft an underbelly to win the big games, but players like Knowles, Matty Lees, and latterly Sione Mata’utia and Curtis Sironen, have done much to add steel to the side.

But Wellens has been at pains to hammer out the message on discipline and crossing the line after all four of the above have copped bans at some stage this year.

“I've had those conversations with him, but when you look at bringing Morgan Knowles back into the team, you've got to consider the wider opinion.

"I see in him is someone that came into the team at a tough period at the club (2015) and quickly developed and established himself as a first team regular.

“He has been an extremely pivotal member of the success that we've had over the last four or five years.

“So when you bring someone back into the team you've got, you have to factor in all of those things as well.

“Morgs is a really important player for us and we're delighted to have him back."