Keiron Cunningham keen to use Jack Owens at full-back for St Helens

Jack Owens will be given a chance to stake a claim for the full-back role at St Helens following his recent signing for the club.

The position has been problematic for Saints, but Owens has already caught the eye of coach Keiron Cunningham while playing at full-back in training

The 21-year-old, who joined Saints on a two-year contract from Widnes, played most of his Super League rugby on the wing for his home-town club.

"Jack Owens has impressed in pre-season and will slot in at full back," Cunningham said.

Cunningham was forced to use five different players at full-back in 2015 after losing Jonny Lomax, Lance Hohia, Shannon McDonnell and Mark Percival at various stages to injury.

Adam Quinlan was given the task of covering the role for the last three months of the season after being signed from Parramatta.

But Quinlan was released at the end of the season and Lomax and McDonnell are still recovering from knee and Achilles tendon surgery respectively.

Cunningham also revealed that winger Adam Swift and prop Alex Walmsley underwent surgery in the close season, but he expects to be able to field a near full-strength team for the opening Super League game against Huddersfield on February 5.

Owens is set to make his first appearance for St Helens in Sunday's friendly against Dewsbury at Langtree Park.