MARK Percival could return to Saints’ backline against Wakefield Trinity.

The England centre, who has been sidelined with a hamstring injury, was named in the 21-man squad for the Leeds Rhinos game in the Challenge Cup but never featured.

Saints head coach Kristian Woolf explains why.

“It’s a week by week thing with Mark,” he said.

“We’re not going to play him until we’re very confident that he’s in a position to not only get through a full game but also to play the week after that and the week after, and to finish the season with us on the field.

“It’s just a matter of being a little bit cautious. We do certain things around training to give us a bit of a mark as to where players are at in terms of injury risk. And we deemed last week that Mark just wasn’t ready.

“At this stage he’ll be named in the 21 again and there’ll be a real chance of this week. If we get to later in the week and we think it’s a similar situation then we’ll push it back a week again. If we get the call he’s right to go then he’ll play.”

While Jack Welsby is the man likely to continue at left centre if Percival does not return, releasing another rising talent Josh Simm to Leigh Centurions on a two-week loan must also point to ‘Percy’ being close to a return.