Harry Randall and Siva Naulago lead a star cast of returning injured players looking to give Bristol Bears a boost heading into the second half of the season.
England international scrum-half Randall has been out since the Autumn after tearing his hamstring but is set to return this weekend away at Zebre having been a travelling reserve last week.
Meanwhile, Fijian-born winger Naulago could also make his first appearance of the season having recovered from knee surgery and then a hamstring injury in training which set his return date back by a couple of months.
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Speaking in midweek before flying out to Italy on Friday morning for Bristol’s third pool stage game of the 2022/23 European Challenge Cup against Zebre on Saturday, Lam said: “The good news is Siva Naulago is back, finally, so he will be available for selection this week and not far around the corner, by the end of the month Will Porter, Sam Bedlow, Jay Tyack and Noah Heward should all be back.
“Noah took a knock to the head against Irish and failed a HIA so he will be unavailable the next couple of weeks but should be available for the Saracens game in the Premiership.
“Richard Lane, who hurt himself in the Quins game, hopefully he will be back next week as well [against Perpignan].”
The good news is despite winger Gabriel Ibitoye being carried off the pitch on Saturday during the 23-7 defeat to London Irish, his leg injury is not as bad as first feared.
Lam explained: “He had a nerve injury, he got hit just above the tibia and his leg shut down. He was a lot better by the end of the game and we are hopeful he could be available this weekend as well.”
However, along with Heward, there was one other sizeable casualty from the disappointing defeat the Gtech Community Stadium in the form of captain Steven Luatua.
Lam said: “Steven Luatua has taken a knock to his ribs against London Irish so he won’t be available this weekend but we were planning a little bit of rotation this week anyway and he should only be out for a week.
“Losing Stevie for this week is a bit of a blow but hopefully it won’t be too long.”
Fellow backrow star Sam Jeffries remains on target to make his playing return in February from the serious hamstring injury he sustained away at Wasps in the second week of the season.
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