NICK Baxter has won a sensational recall to the Worcester Rugby Club line-up just 19 days after fearing his season was over.
The Sixways winger returns for the crunch National One clash at Wakefield on Saturday hoping for a repeat of his last trip to Yorkshire when he bagged two tries at Otley.
The 27-year-old suffered a fractured eye socket last month during the 56-18 win over Henley and was initially told he could face surgery and a lengthy spell on the sidelines.
However, he has made an incredible recovery from the injury and doctors have given him the green light to return to first-team action.
Baxter replaces Spencer Bromley in the side as coach Adrian Skeggs changes the team which beat Waterloo 30-18 on Sunday. Skipper Alistair Murdoch has recovered from 'flu and comes in at centre because of Rudi Keil's back and hamstring injuries. The other change sees full-back Mathew Back replace Ian Calder for his first game since the December defeat at Moseley.
Neil Lyman retains his place at prop after his comeback from a calf injury against the Drummers.
Skeggs has resisted the temptation to restore either Chris Simpson-Daniel or Richard Jarman to scrum-half and will give Ricky Pellow, who broke his nose in training this week, another chance to shine.
However, Skeggs was delighted with Baxter's inclusion and believes his presence can give the team a huge lift at Wakefield.
He said: "Nick is a real local hero with the fans and they will be delighted to see him back. What I hope is that his presence will not only lift us on the pitch but off it as well because I am sure they will get behind him at Wakefield."
Worcester: Back; Tuipulotu, Barrow, Murdoch, Baxter; Va'a, Pellow; Windo, Lamerton, Lyman, Zaltzman, Sims, Evans, Mather, Fryday.
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