Aviva Premiership
Foden set for Saints comeback?
ESPN Staff
November 20, 2012
England fullback Ben Foden during England training ahead of the first Test against South Africa. Northwood Crusaders RFC, Durban, South Africa, June 4, 2012
Ben Foden could play for Northampton this weekend © Getty Images
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Ben Foden looks set to return from injury a month ahead of schedule and could line up for the Northampton Saints this weekend.

Foden, who has missed both of England's Tests in the autumn internationals after sustaining ligament damage against Bath back in September, was pencilled in for a mid-December return. But in a boost for Jim Mallinder's Northampton, he could feature against London Welsh on Saturday.

"I started running again at the end of last week and did some change of direction running this morning, which went pretty well so I am hoping to start the rugby sessions on Tuesday or Wednesday," Foden told the Daily Telegraph. "Then it is up to the coaches to decide if I am ready. If it is not this weekend it should be definitely the game against Sale on November 30.

"When the injury was first diagnosed, my return was scheduled for the away game against Ulster but I heal fast. I have been in every day doing all the right things and I had a good surgeon and the operation went well. He still said it would be 12 weeks before I could play again but I am around four weeks ahead of that."

With England lining up against the Springboks this weekend and then the All Blacks on December 1, Foden has played down any suggestions that he could play in the current batch of internationals but admits he would "love" to answer England boss Stuart Lancaster's call if required.

"I think it would be unfair that I could come back into any games during the autumn series because Alex Goode and Mike Brown have been playing well to deserve their chances," Foden said. "But I would love to, if the call came through I would be there."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.

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