Saints' Knowles aims for improvement after injury

Morgan Knowles returned from injury after surgery on a persistent groin problem

St Helens loose forward Morgan Knowles says his recovery from a long-standing groin injury could pave the way for him to improve his performances going forward.

The England international, 27, missed three months of the season and needed surgery.

He played in Saints' win over Hull FC on Saturday - his first game for the club since a 40-20 home defeat by Hull KR on 3 May.

"It was tough on the lungs. Nothing quite replicates playing. I've had a tough two or three months," he told BBC Radio Merseyside.

"You start questioning things. Am I going to get back or get to where I was before, if not better? It's probably longer than the three months, it's two years I've been managing it and it's the third surgery I've had now.

"I've been playing with pain for the past couple of years. Sometimes it would be better, sometimes it would be worse, but it was at a point where I couldn't do my job whereas before I couldn't do my job as far as I wanted to.

"But now it shouldn't be limiting me and I should above and beyond where I've been in the past two years."

Saints have been plagued by injury absences and suspensions of late and have slipped away from the top of Super League, but Saturday's eight-try win at Hull FC ended their five-game losing run.

"It's really frustrating [being injured] because you feel so guilty. You see the boys playing and doing big minutes and being asked to do a lot week in week out and you can't do anything," said Knowles.

"It's been really tough but we've started getting a few back now and we've got a first win on the board and [the dressing room] has been a lot happier in the past week."