British & Irish Lions prop Alex Corbisiero is due to return for Northampton Saints before the end of the season, according to director of rugby Jim Mallinder.
Corbisiero, who started the first and third Tests for the Lions last summer – scoring the opening try in Sydney– has been on the sidelines since November after undergoing surgery for a knee injury.
The 25-year-old only moved to the Saints from London Irish at the start of the season, and came into the club fresh from starring for the Lions in Australia last summer.
But after spending most of this campaign watching on from the sidelines, Mallinder expects his man back on the pitch for the start of May against Bath in the penultimate round of the Premiership.
"As we've said all along, we expect Corbs to be back before the end of the season," Mallinder said. "We're hopeful he'll be back for the Bath game."
