Ellis retains Hull place

Hull’s Jamie Ellis could face former club St Helens on Friday after he was named in Peter Gentle’s 19-man squad.

Ellis, 22, joined the Airlie Birds in the close season from Leigh, after helping the Centurions to the Northern Rail Cup in an impressive season at the Leigh Sports Village.

The half back or hooker made his debut off the bench in last weekend’s 14-10 win over Wakefield.

He made his Super League debut for St Helens back in July 2009 in a 20-10 defeat to Salford, but was restricted to just three appearances for his hometown club due to injuries.

Hull travel to Langtree Park on Friday to face Saints, who are without James Roby (thigh) and Tommy Makinson (tendonitis), but do welcome back Jamie Foster and Josh Perry.

St Helens 19-man squad: Wellens, Gardner, Shenton, Soliola, Meli, Hohaia, Lomax, Perry, McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Puletua, Wilkin, Flannery, Laffranchi, Flanagan, Clough, Wheeler, Dixon, Gaskell, Foster.

Hull 19-man squad: McKinnon, Sharp, Martin, Yeaman, Briscoe, Horne, Seymour, O’Meley, Houghton, Lynch, Manu, Tickle, Whiting, O’Carroll, Moa, Turner, Ellis, Aspinwall, Bowden.