Finn Russell set to give Bath a pre-Six Nations boost

Johann van Graan has confirmed that Finn Russell and fellow Scotland international Josh Bayliss will return to Bath on Thursday from Six Nations training camp and will be considered for selection for Sunday’s game against Sale Sharks at the Salford Community Stadium.

Playmaker Russell, who passed an HIA during the Investec Champions Cup defeat to Leinster last weekend, and back-row Bayliss will have one training session with the squad on Friday morning before van Graan names his team for the round 11 clash.

However, the Bath boss will be missing the England quartet, Will Stuart, Ted Hill, Ollie Lawrence and Ben Spencer, who was called up to the training camp in Girona as scrum-half injury cover earlier in the week, as well as several injured players.

Will Muir, Cam Redpath, Guy Pepper and Sam Underhill are still out and hooker Tom Dunn could miss the trip north after suffering a nasty gash to his leg at the Aviva Stadium.

“These big European days take their toll and that’s why you have got to have a squad,” van Graan said.

On the upside, Beno Obano has been cleared to play after his red card against Leinster warranted no further sanction.

Detailing the movement of his Scotland internationals, the South African added: “They joined Scotland on Monday morning and their training camp finishes today (Wednesday). They’ll fly back tomorrow, it is an off day for us, so they’ll have tomorrow off and then we’ll see them on Friday morning for the one training session.”

Van Graan is used to the curve balls that are thrown his way as a head of rugby, especially around regulation nine and the availability of international players.

“Last season we played Toulouse away, and we got stuck in Toulouse for an extra night and the Scottish lads had to find another way to get to Edinburgh. Finn only joined us that week at the captain’s practice when we played Bristol. It is part and parcel of the game. It is not ideal but it is the same for all teams.

“Certainly with the quality of Finn and Josh coming back, we’ll consider them for the weekend. I am keen to introduce them.”