\n<\/p>\n
Bringing club captain George Furbank straight back into Northampton’s starting line-up for Saturday’s Champions Cup final against Bordeaux-Begles is a gamble admits director of rugby Phil Dowson.<\/b><\/p>\n
Full-back Furbank has missed much of the campaign after breaking his arm in the away win over the Bulls at the end of last year.<\/p>\n
Having had metal plates inserted in his arm, the 28-year-old made an initial return in Saints’ quarter-final victory over Castres in April, but suffered a setback in that match and it was feared his season might be over.<\/p>\n
“It’s always a gamble,” said Dowson. <\/p>\n
“Whenever you bring someone back from injury, there is always a point where they have got to hit somebody, make a cover tackle, or go flat out.<\/p>\n
“There is always a risk there.”<\/p>\n
However, Dowson insists that he saw enough in Furbank’s curtailed appearance against Castres to have confidence he can slot straight back into Saints’ gameplan.<\/p>\n
“They were a good 52 minutes,” he said.<\/p>\n
“I think what was impressive was his ability to drop back into our gameplan and still see space and make good decisions.<\/p>\n
“Nothing quite replicates a game, but his ability to do that straight off the bat was very impressive.”<\/p>\n
Curtis Langdon is also in the Saints’ starting XV after concerns that an injury picked up in last weekend’s win over Saracens may rule the hooker out.<\/p>\n
Ollie Sleightholme is another to make a comeback on the biggest stage, with the wing named on the bench and set to make his first appearance since suffering an ankle injury on England duty in March.<\/p>\n
Alex Coles is fit to take up a role as blindside flanker, while Henry Pollock plays at number eight with Ulster-bound South African Juarno Augustus ruled out.<\/p>\n
Northampton, who will be captained on the pitch by England centre Fraser Dingwall, are seeking to lift the trophy for the second time, having won it 25 years ago against Munster.<\/p>\n
Attack coach Sam Vesty says that Northampton, who reached the Champions Cup semi-final in addition to lifting the Premiership title last year, are determined not to be cowed by the occasion.<\/p>\n