Noon keen on Falcons return

The 28-year-old damaged medial knee ligaments in England's 36-0 pool loss to South Africa during the recent Rugby World Cup, but after six weeks with the Falcons medical staff is chomping at the bit to get back on the field.

"Jamie was actually very close for our previous game against Newport Gwent Dragons, but we made the decision to hold him back a week and unleash him on the Spanish!" said director of rugby, John Fletcher.

"He's absolutely flying in training. In our team session last week he was running round trying to take peoples' heads off, so there might be a few crash helmets on show from the Spanish team next weekend I think.

"But to have him back in the side is a massive boost, and I know he can't wait to get back out on the field after what has been a frustrating period of time for him with the way his World Cup ended prematurely."

Noon may not be the only injured Falcon to return, with club captain and No.8 Phil Dowson also among the potential comeback kids, while flanker Ben Woods made a late cameo in Saturday's 29-24 victory over the Dragons after six weeks out with a broken hand.

"Ben Woods came on from the bench today and will continue to progress after breaking his hand, then Phil Dowson will be pretty close as he is due to have a fitness test in the week.

"Next week will probably be too early for Jonny Wikinson, but we're slowly starting to get guys back after what has been a pretty cruel run of injuries."

Fletcher insisted that the injury which saw England's Toby Flood leave the field after just 53 minutes of the Falcons' last game was not a serious one, stating: "It's just a back spasm, nothing to worry about long term, and he actually caught it a little bit during the warm-up before the game.

"We managed to keep him going a little bit after half time, but he was in a bit of discomfort and couldn't kick so we just decided to get him off. He would have played on, there's no doubt, but it wouldn't have been fair to him to ask him to do that."

Looking to this coming weekend and the challenge that lies in wait at Estadio Pepe Rojo, Fletcher said: "We're not underestimating the Spanish opposition at all, and we will be preparing for this game just as we would do for any other.

"We have a short turnaround after the match as we host Brive at Kingston Park next Thursday, so there may be an element of rotation just purely from a recovery standpoint, but the focus will be just the same this weekend as we aim to begin our assault on the European Challenge Cup."