St Helens have confirmed that Jon Wilkin will captain the team for the new Super League season.

The 32-year-old replaces Paul Wellens, who has stepped down from the role in what coach Keiron Cunningham is calling a "natural progression".

Veteran full-back Wellens will remain in the squad at Langtree Park, helping Wilkin to skipper the side.

"Paul didn't want to let go of it, but he didn't want to not have that presence where he wasn't captain of the club," Cunningham is quoted as saying by Sky Sports News.

"As a joint decision Paul will support the new captain, and we thought the natural progression to continue what we are doing would be Jon."

Wilkin has made nearly 300 appearances for the Saints following his arrival at the club in 2002.