St Helens have announced utility back Gary Wheeler has signed a two-year extension to his contract which will keep him at the club until the end of the 2014 season.

Wheeler, 22, is among a host of promising local juniors to make the breakthrough into Stobart Super League; he has made 40 appearances for Saints since making his debut in 2008, scoring 16 tries in the process.

“Saints are my home-town club and I couldn’t imagine being anywhere else,” he said. “There is fantastic competition for places in the side at the moment and I’m looking forward to establishing myself long-term.”

Wheeler has been overshadowed by winger Jamie Foster and half-backs Jonny Lomax and Lee Gaskell during the last two injury-hit seasons, but caught the eye with a two-try show against Catalan Dragons last Friday.

St Helens chairman Eamonn McManus said: “We have a fabulous crop of home-grown young players at Saints at the moment and Gary Wheeler is one of the best and brightest.

“It’s great news that he has committed himself to his home-town club.”