FORMER Barrow Island junior Morgan Knowles is set to make his St Helens bow at hooker tonight.

The 19-year-old is in for injured skipper James Roby as Saints head to Salford Red Devils in the televised First Utility Super League Round Two clash.

Academy ace Knowles joined Saints at under-15s level and he has progressed through the club's system to eventually reach the highest level of the sport.

His mum Alyson revealed her son broke the news to her after training and she along with the rest of the family will be heading down to Greater Manchester to was him in action.

“We are so excited, but obviously nervous as well," she said. "It's all those years of driving up and down the M6 and all the dedication he has put in to actually get at this point, the hard work and the sacrifices he has made and yes, he's getting his opportunity at 19, that can't be bad can it really. We are all going across.

“He been at St Helens since scholarship under-15s and this is his third year in the academy now. He's been through all pre-season training with the first team, they came up to Graythwaite with Cassius camp.

"He's had a hard pre-season and he is showing something that Keiron Cunningham is pleased with.”

Barrow-born Knowles, a former Ulverston Victoria High pupil who has represented Wales at junior level, is set to line up with another Barrow Island product, Greg Richards, for the Salford game.

Knowles' potential was identified by a St Helens player performance manager while featuring for the Barrow and District under-12s against a Saints side at Craven Park and he was offered a place on the club’s scholarship at under-15s.