Fotuali’i and Day return for Saints and Foden is named on the bench

BACK IN THE SPOTLIGHT - Ben Foden is set to make his first Saints appearance since Novemver 23 on Sunday (Picture: Hannah Wheeley)

Full-back Ben Foden has also been named on the bench, and is set to play his first part of Saints’ action since injuring his knee in the win over Falcons at Franklin’s Gardens in November.

Fotuali’i comes if for Lee Dickson, who is on England’s bench for their Six Nations clash with Ireland on Saturday, while second row Day has recovered from the leg injury which kept him out of last weekend’s win over Worcester.

GJ van Velze drops to the bench, with Sam Dickinson switching to No.8 to make way for Day in the second row.

Among those joining Foden on the replacements’ bench are scrum-half Alex Day and fly-half Glenn Dickson

Saints team to play Newcastle, Aviva Premiership, Kingston Park, Sunday, February 23, KO 3pm: James Wilson; Ken Pisi, George Pisi, Tom Stephenson, Jamie Elliott; Stephen Myler, Kahn Fotuali’i; Alex Waller, Mike Haywood, Salesi Ma’afu, Samu Manoa, Christian Day, Calum Clark, Phil Dowson, Sam Dickinson.

Replacements: Ross McMillan, Ethan Waller, Gareth Denman, GJ van Velze, Ben Nutley, Alex Day, Glenn Dickson, Ben Foden