Dave Rennie believes Glasgow could edge back to full strength in the next fortnight – with knock-on implications for Gregor Townsend and the Scotland national team.
Locks Tim Swinson and Scott Cummings are the first from the Warriors’ huge injury long-term list to make it back on the park at Scotstoun tonight against the Cheetahs, who lie third behind Glasgow in the Guinness PRO14 Conference A.
In the next fortnight the Warriors could see Callum Gibbins back, but importantly for Scotland both Fraser Brown and Zander Fagerson as well.
“We are expediting to get a few more back in the coming weeks,” said Rennie. “We are excited to get Tim and Scott back and also Sam Johnson who was in outstanding form before he got injured.
“It is good to get those sort of guys back in because they are experienced and they add a lot from the leadership point of view. That is important going into a game against the Cheetahs who are a very good side.”
Brown – who underwent specialist examination for recurring concussions but has now been cleared – and Fagerson are still a fortnight away, but could come into the reckoning for the final two weeks of the Six Nations.
“Fraser is in training, doing everything but contact,” said Rennie. “We are certainly not going to rush him. He has been symptom-free for a number of weeks and we’ve had some positive news from the specialist.
“We’ll hope to get him into contact and then hopefully he’ll be available in two weeks.It wouldn’t surprise me if he goes well that he gets taken back up to the national side. That would be great for Scotland and great for him.
“Zander is doing well, working diligently. He probably won’t be quite right next week but is a strong chance he will be back and available against Ulster and I suspect he would be likely to be taken back by the national squad too.”
Rennie has no qualms about picthing his young half-backs Adam Hastings and George Horne out again, although he wanted more control out of them in the draw with the Dragons last week.
“I’ve been really impressed by Adam,” he said. “He is very good with ball in hand and has really good footwork.
“He’s working really hard on his game management. He’s only 21 and we are asking him to poke some pretty experienced players in the chest and be demanding. He will get an opportunity over the next few weeks.”
The coach has no doubts his other stand-off, Finn Russell, will bounce back from his current Six Nations slump.
“Finn is an outstanding player and he is working really hard on game management,” he said. “I have no doubt he will go well (against England).
“He did a lot of good things against France. The coaching group is working hard from a team perspective and I have total confidence in him.
“Can he put that behind him? Absolutely.”
Glasgow team: Ruaridh Jackson; Lee Jones, Nick Grigg, Sam Johnson, Niko Matawalu; Adam Hastings, George Horne; Alex Allan, James Malcolm, Siua Halanukonuka; Tim Swinson, Scott Cummings; Rob Harley (capt), Chris Fusaro, Matt Fagerson. Replacements: Grant Stewart, Oli Kebble, D’Arcy Rae, Matt Smith, Adam Ashe, Henry Pyrgos, Brandon Thomson, Ratu Tagive.