European Champions Cup
Barritt set for comeback against Munster
January 13, 2015
England's Brad Barritt sustained a calf strain against Australia in the autumn internationals © Getty Images
Enlarge

England centre Brad Barritt will make his first appearance since the autumn in Saracens' must-win Champions Cup clash with Munster at Allianz Park on Saturday.

Barritt has recovered from the calf strain sustained against Australia in the climax to the recent Test series and will be drafted straight into the starting XV as the London club seek to keep their quarter-finals hopes alive.

And Saracens' prospects of toppling the two-time European champions have improved further with the return of fly-halves Owen Farrell and Charlie Hodgson from respective calf and stinger injuries.

"Owen, Charlie and Brad will be fine," director of rugby Mark McCall said.

"It's a massive boost having Brad back, we haven't seen him since the autumn. To get a player of his quality back for a game like this is massive. He will be ready to start.

"In your biggest games you want your best players and Test match animals. Brad's last game against Australia was, for me, one of the bravest and most physical performances I've seen by anyone, never mind a centre.

"If we get something like that on Saturday it will be pretty good, but it's a tall order because he hasn't played for a while."

Farrell was a late withdrawal from Friday night's Aviva Premiership defeat at Gloucester, but McCall insists the England star's absence was only a precautionary measure.#

"To not have either fly-half against Gloucester wasn't ideal, but Owen's injury was very, very minor," McCall said.

"He trained on Monday, but we didn't want to risk it with this Munster game coming up."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd

Live Sports

Communication error please reload the page.