Experience will help youngsters, says Turner

St Helens centre Jordan Turner says the experience the club’s youngsters are gaining this season will hold them in good stead for the future.

Injuries and suspensions have hit an already depleted Saints squad even further ahead of this weekend’s trip to London Broncos, with coach Nathan Brown set to draft in yet another youngster, 18-year-old Luke Thompson, for his first team debut.

Fans have already seen the likes of Mark Percival, Anthony Walker and Lewis Charnock thrust in to first team action, as they try and cope without first team regulars such as James Roby, Jonny Lomax and Willie Manu.

Joining the injured on the sidelines are Francis Meli, Jon Wilkin and Ade Gardner, who were all banned following last week’s Challenge Cup defeat at Hull KR.

Turner told the club’s official website: “We do have a lot of players out at the moment but that does give us some confidence too. 

“The fact we have big name injured players out – the younger lads are coming in gaining a lot of experience. 

“They are improving and that set us in good stead for the future.”

Turner might see himself shifted around the Saints line-up, as he was on Saturday, when he moved on to the wing following Meli’s red card.

He added: “It was a new one to me. But these things happen and I am more than happy to fill in wherever the coaching staff want me to. 

“I will do the best for the team and if that means playing in other positions I will. 

“It’s been the same since I was a kid really, I just want to play and get into the team on merit.”

Turner, who joined the club from Hull last autumn, has scored five tries in 13 appearances this season.