Sarries return to league after playing in Anglo-Welsh Cup past two weekends

Saracens return to the Aviva Premiership on Friday night when they make the trip to Gloucester.

Like all teams in the English top flight, the north Londoners have spent the past couple of weeks in Anglo-Welsh Cup action.

Plenty of young Sarries stars got some minutes under their belts, though admittedly did not get the results they were hoping for.

Last Friday, the Men in Black were beaten 29-22 at Sale Sharks, having lost 30-29 at home to Harlequins the week before.

While it was Saracens’ potential starts of the future who played in those games, Mark McCall will welcome back some more experienced heads for the trip to Kingsholm.

The likes of Schalk Burger and Alex Goode are expected to return to the starting XV, as is British & Irish Lions lock George Kruis.

The 27-year-old started for England last weekend as they began their Autumn Internationals campaign with a 21-8 win at home to Argentina.

However, Kruis has been released back to his club ahead of the Red Roses’ clash with Australia at Twickenham on Saturday, meaning he is free to play for Sarries.

Club colleagues Alex Lozowski and Nick Isiekwe have also been released from the England squad ahead of the weekend, meaning they can play at Gloucester.

The Allianz Park club will have to do without Maro Itoje and Owen Farrell, who will both feature for their country against the Wallabies.

The Sarries duo both had something to celebrate this week, having been named on the five-man shortlist for the World Rugby Player of the Year award.

Farrell and Itoje have enjoyed fine years for both club and country, helping England defend their Six Nations crown, as well as winning a second successive European Champions Cup title with Sarries.

The duo also played a key part in the British & Irish Lions drawn series against the All Blacks in the summer.

Also up for the award are Rieko Ioane, last year’s winner Beauden Barrett and Israel Folau, with Itoje the only forward on the list.