Boss Boyd delivers Saints injury update ahead of trip to Newcastle Falcons

The free-scoring wing, who has grabbed nine tries in his past six appearances, has been sidelined for the past two games due to a back problem.

But Saints boss Chris Boyd said: "He's probably available for selection this week.

"We'll see how he goes tomorrow (Thursday) and then we train again on Saturday.

"But he's probably going to me in the mixer."

Hooker Mike Haywood also looks set to be in contention for a place in the matchday squad at Newcastle.

Boyd said: "Mikey Haywood sustained quite an uncomfortable sprained finger at training last Thursday.

"He caught the ball on the end of his finger and it ballooned up so he had no flexibility in it.

"He trained today and trained pretty decently so he should be available for selection."

Dan Biggar was forced off after just 20 minutes during last Saturday's 31-7 defeat to Gloucester at Franklin's Gardens.

But the Wales fly-half has could yet be ready to face the Falcons.

"We go from a Saturday to a Monday so he can turn it around in six days and fortunately we've got 10 days between games.

"He's a long way down the process, he hasn't had any symptoms and is in pretty good nick actually.

"We had a walk through at training today and he was very much involved in that so he's heading north."

One player who definitely won't feature again this season is prop Owen Franks, who suffered a foot injury back in February.

"Owen's season is finished," Boyd said.

"That Lisfranc injury is a long injury so he's a long way from being anything like fit."

Saints will also definitely be without Nick Isiekwe (shoulder), Danny Hobbs-Awoyemi (Achilles) and Alex Mitchell (ankle).

Courtney Lawes is closing in on a return to action after suffering a pectoral injury in England training back in February, but Monday's match is likely to come too soon for the Lions lock.