News

Henson hitting the right notes

October 16 2008

Gavin Henson, a week ago hanging his head in shame at an internal Ospreys two-week ban after missing training, has been praised by coach Sean Holley for the way he has reacted to the setback.

Henson wil line up in the Welsh Premiership for Swansea against Newport on Saturday, while his Ospreys and Wales team-mates are taking on Perpignan in the Heineken Cup, as a result of the ban.

"Gavin is certainly looking in good form and good shape," said Holley to the BBC.

"He has his ups and downs like all of us, good days and bad days. But this week he has had a lot of good days and we will see what shape he is in by the end of the week.

"He is bigger and fitter than he's ever been before.

"It's really quite exciting to have, dare I say, a hungry and determined Gavin Henson back."

The loss of Henson is not Holley's only problem for this week's match. Scotland winger Nikki Walker is out with a broken hand, meaning the back-line will be still further depleted.

"It is sad news for us," said Holley, thie time to the Western Mail.

"Nikki has been in a rich vein of form this year and it's just another injury to our three-quarters that we could have done without. It's certainly a bit of a blow. But there we are, these are the thunderbolts you are dealt.

"We still have options available to us. Obviously Tommy Bowe has been covering at outside centre recently and doing really well.

!"We still have the option to play Tommy on the wing, while Jonny Vaughton has had considerable experience with us now and played in the EDF final on the wing last year marking Alesana Tuilagi.

"Starting with Daniel Biggar at ten and moving James (Hook) into midfield is definitely an option for us as well. The back-line that finished last week did particularly well.

"Young Daniel is progressing all the time and when James plays at twelve he does look particularly dangerous.

"On top of that, Andrew Bishop and his brother David, who has come back strong this year, are particularly strong in midfield and very reliable.

"So we still have a lot of clubs in the bag, as it were, and I am sure we will be fine in that department."