Faf de Klerk set to make comeback from injury

Sale Sharks director of rugby Alex Sanderson revealed that Manu Tuilagi and Francois de Klerk are in contention for the 15th round of the Gallagher Premiership clash against Harlequins on Sunday.

De Klerk last played in October last year during the Rugby Championship campaign with South Africa during which he sustained a hip injury in the encounter against New Zealand.

On joining his club Sale Sharks, the 30-year-old underwent a surgery to address the issue and was initially expected to return at the end of February but now is expected to return sooner than anticipated according to Sanderson.

“I got told two weeks on Sunday and four weeks on Monday – that was just the medical team wanting a pat on the back in front of the coaches, so I think it is two or three weeks ahead of schedule,” said Sanderson.

“He is also up for selection, buzzing around, a little ball of blonde energy around the training ground. He is in good form.”

Meanwhile, Tuilagi was sidelined with a grade three hamstring tear that he sustained during the final game of England's Autumn Nations Series against South Africa.

“It’s a very definite maybe for this weekend, I have to say,” Sanderson said.

“He has been out there the last two weeks. This week he has trained really well, looked sharp, looked good, happy. Yes, he is up for selection. Fit.”

Sale Sharks are positioned ninth in the Gallagher Premiership table with five wins from 13 games.