Cunningham led Saints to victory in the 2007 Challenge Cup

St Helens captain Keiron Cunningham has been given clearance to play on after scans revealed he did not break his jaw in Saturday's win over Crusaders.

It was first thought the 33-year-old hooker would be forced to prematurely end his career, ahead of his intended retirement at the end of the season.

But Cunningham could play in the final league game of the campaign against Castleford on Friday, 3 September.

Saints need a big win to finish second in the league, ahead of the play-offs.

And now Cunningham's farewell season has not been brought to an early end it will mean he will have the chance to make one last appearance at Knowsley Road, Saints' home for the last 120 years.

Next year the club will play their home games at Widnes before they move to a new home in autumn 2011.

Cunningham has played 492 games for St Helens since his debut in 1994 and is due to call time on his career at the end of the season, having twice delayed it.

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He was recently voted the greatest player in the club's history and is to be honoured with a statue in the centre of St Helens.

Cunningham has played in every season of Super League, was named in the Dream Team in 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2006 and 2008, and captained Saints to victory in the Challenge Cup final at Wembley in 2007 and 2008.

After Saints' 36-10 victory on Saturday, coach Mick Potter said: "It would be dreadful, for him not to play again would be tragic.

"Keiron says it was an elbow. He's not happy. It takes the shine off the win."

Crusaders' former Great Britain head coach Brian Noble added: "I'm a huge fan of Keiron Cunningham. He's a legend, if that's the right word."

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