Warren Gatland has revealed that he always intended to include Gavin Henson in his autumn squad © Getty Images

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Players/Officials: Warren Gatland | Gavin Henson

Teams: Wales

Wales boss Warren Gatland has revealed he never considered ditching Gavin Henson from his autumn Test plans. Henson could line up against world champions South Africa on November 8 having started only three games in seven months.

But Gatland is not bothered by the star centre's lack of competitive action, which was initially caused by a serious ankle injury then a two-match ban imposed by his regional employers, the Ospreys.

Henson is likely to line up for the Ospreys when they tackle Worcester next Sunday in the Anglo-Welsh Cup. And Gatland is relaxed about the whole Henson business after naming him among a 32-man squad that features five uncapped players.

Gatland said, "I wasn't that keen on leaving Gavin out of this squad - he's not a bad player. He is one of those players who I would put in the same category as Shane Williams.

"If Shane hadn't had any rugby and was fit and available, then he would have been selected. Gavin, for us, is very similar. We were very pleased with his Six Nations last season. When Gavin starts for Wales, his performances tend to be pretty positive.

"Physically, he looks in great nick, too. There wasn't any debate about leaving Gavin Henson out."

Asked how many games Henson might need before he was considered fully fit and firing on all cylinders, Gatland replied, "None. He is the type of player that before he makes himself available does an incredible amount of work in the gym - he makes sure he's right, physically and mentally.

"He is a confidence player, and with just one or two games under his belt, we are going to be more than happy."

Henson is among several established internationals who will provide the backbone of Gatland's squad for autumn appointments with South Africa, Canada, New Zealand and Australia. Of the team that started last season's Grand Slam-clinching victory over France in Cardiff, only injured Ospreys players Mike Phillips and Jonathan Thomas are missing. Scrum-half Phillips is still recovering from a long-term knee injury, while flanker Thomas underwent groin surgery last week.

But Gatland has also promoted two of Wales' most influential Under-20 World Cup performers earlier this year - Cardiff Blues wing Leigh Halfpenny and Ospreys fly-half Dan Biggar.

Halfpenny scored two spectacular tries during the Blues' impressive Heineken Cup win against Gloucester last Sunday, while fellow 19-year-old Biggar has featured impressively for the Ospreys this term.

Blues number eight Andy Powell, man of the match against Gloucester, also gains his reward, as does Sale Sharks' 21-stone prop Eifion Roberts and Scarlets scrum-half Martin Roberts.

Gatland said, "There are a couple of players we want to have a look at and get them involved in collecting the experience of being in a national squad. We are also very mindful of the six-day turnaround between the South African and Canadian games, and how the players recover, and also the fact Ospreys have got a game the Sunday before the South African match."

"I have always promoted giving the youngsters an opportunity. We've seen Dan step up and Leigh take his opportunities, likewise Andy Powell. Andy was injured last year, but two performances I've seen from him this season against Leinster and Gloucester were absolutely world class.

"Dan Biggar has controlled games well when he's gone on for the Ospreys. He has a maturity about him. He might not get a huge opportunity in the short term, but I think he is a player we've got to make sure we look after and develop.

"With Eifion, we've spoken to (Sale coach) Kingsley Jones and the people at Sale, and they've spoken very highly in terms of how much he's worked off-season. We want to have a good, close look at him."

Wales won the RBS 6 Nations title after Gatland's first five games in charge, but a sterner test now awaits in a triple Tri-Nations challenge. He added, These sides have consistently been the top three in world rugby for many years, and we will relish the opportunity to play each of them. We have made no secret of our ambition to climb the world rankings.

"It is only by meeting these sides regularly, and ensuring that we are able to compete, that we stand a chance of achieving our aims."