mens
Gallagher-Prime Minister
Harlequins boss Jason Gilmore will get a much-needed boost after passing England Fly-half Marcus Smith fit for Sunday afternoon’s trip to Sale Sharks.
Quins are bottom of the Gallagher PREM, still looking for their first point of the season after defeat by Bath and Gloucester, who thrashed them 48-0, the club’s heaviest league defeat in 26 years.
However, Gilmore will have Smith available for the first time since injuring his toe in a friendly against Edinburgh, while England loosehead Finn Baxter is still sidelined with a long-term foot injury.
Baxter has not played since the Champions Cup win Bayonne in December due to foot problems and is likely to return to Challenge Cup visit Valves on sunday sunday.
Gilmore also says Samoan Titi Lamositele, who has been sidelined for 11 months since injuring his foot in the defeat to Gloucester, is closing in on a return to action.
“Smithy is our quarterback. He’s back on the practice field this week, so as long as he can train properly and get through his contact — and, to get back into the game, there are levels he needs to go through — then he’ll be ready to go. So he’s on the right track right now.
“He’s really delighted and obviously he was disappointed with that injury against Edinburgh, missing the start of the competition, and he’s been brilliant behind the scenes, and he’s been on the pitch this week in training. So he’s really excited to get back out there.”
“Finn is training with the lads today. So I think it’s going to be busy this week, but hopefully he’ll be back on deck next week. So it would be great to get those two back.”
“Hopefully Titi Lamositele isn’t too far away. They’re two pretty important people in our front row for us this year. So we’re not too far away from having the full squad back,” Gilmore said.