King expecting Foden to feature against Newcastle

Alex King is hopeful Ben Foden will get some game time for Saints at Newcastle this weekend.
Ben Foden is helped off the pitch after injuring his knee against Newcastle in November (picture: Linda Dawson)Ben Foden is helped off the pitch after injuring his knee against Newcastle in November (picture: Linda Dawson)
Ben Foden is helped off the pitch after injuring his knee against Newcastle in November (picture: Linda Dawson)

And he is also upbeat about the fitness of lock Christian Day, who missed last Saturday’s 30-14 victory against Worcester with a leg injury sustained at Exeter on February 8.

Foden has missed Saints’ last 12 games with a knee injury picked up in the 18-0 victory against Newcastle at Franklin’s Gardens on November 23.

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But the England full-back returned to full training this week and could be in line for at least a place on the bench for the Aviva Premiership game at Kingston Park on Sunday.

“It’s great to have Ben back,” said attack coach King. “Him and Christian Day are coming back from injury and it’s great to have those quality of players to make the squad stronger.

“Ben brings a real energy and a real desire to play rugby the way he thinks it should be played: speed, ball in hand, counter-attack.

“Ben’s a class player and it’s great to have him back in the fold. Hopefully he’ll be getting some game time this weekend.”

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But King is less sure when England prop Alex Corbisiero will return from injury.

Corbisiero has been out since November after aggravating a knee problem in England’s game against Argentina.

He had been expected to return this month or next, but King is wary about issuing a return date for the player.

“Alex is working incredibly hard to get back fit,” he said. “It’s like any injury really, you don’t want to set down a goal in stone because he might come back earlier or he might come back later.

“He’s doing everything he can with the physios and the strength and conditioning staff and he’ll come back when he’s ready. Hopefully that’s pretty soon.”

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