Tuesday 17 January 2017 15:00, UK
James Haskell has been passed fit for Wasps and director of rugby Dai Young has backed him to shine for England in the Six Nations.
The 31-year-old will feature for Wasps in their final European Champions Cup game at Zebre on Sunday, with the Coventry-based side expected to reach the knock-out stages of the competition.
Haskell made his first appearance since playing for England against Australia in the summer in Wasps' 22-16 victory over Leicester in January after undergoing foot surgery.
But the flanker lasted just 35 seconds when, after coming on as a replacement, he seemed to be knocked unconscious and missed Saturday's 17-14 Champions Cup win over Toulouse.
Haskell has now completed the protocols around concussion, a mandatory six-day graduated return, and Young is ready to throw him back into the first-team squad.
"He finished all his injury protocols over the weekend so he'll be available this week," Young said. "We'll definitely involve him, he'll probably start - either at six or seven I'm not sure yet - but he'll definitely be involved.
"He is just bursting to get out there now. We have had a lot of players who have played a lot over the last six or seven weeks so for the likes of Haskell to come back means we're starting to get into a better position.
"I really felt for him. He has taken a bit of stick over it and if you give it you've got to be prepared to take it. He'll be the first one to rib someone if the shoe was on the other foot. He's really eager to get out there now and hopefully get some big game time."
Eddie Jones' England squad for the Six Nations is named on Friday, and Young expects Haskell to be fit for the tournament, despite spending seven months out injured prior to his aborted comeback.
"We were confident with his foot injury that he'd be back for the Six Nations," Young added. "It's typical really, he comes back, plays one game for us and goes and plays in the Six Nations.
"We were never going to push him or put him under pressure to come back. He has worked really hard and it would have been nice if he'd come off the bench and been involved this week and last week as it would have been a good lead in for him.
“He is extremely fit and he wants to get back out on the field. I'm sure he'll play a big part in England's campaign."
