Dowson delivers Saints injury latest ahead of trip to Bordeaux
Phil Dowson has confirmed George Furbank and Ollie Sleightholme are available for Saints' Investec Champions Cup game at Union Bordeaux Bègles on Sunday afternoon (kick-off 3.15pm UK time).
Both players missed the 66-21 Gallagher PREM win against Harlequins last Saturday.
But when asked for an update on their status ahead of the trip to France this weekend, Dowson, speaking at Saints' media session on Wednesday afternoon, said: "Both available.
"George was out last week with some illness so he seems to have got over that.
"Sleights is in good form and trained well today."
Two players who won't be able to feature for Saints at Bordeaux are Fraser Dingwall and Josh Kemeny as they were both forced off during the first half of the Quins clash after sustaining concussion.
On Dingwall, Dowson said: "He's okay. He was okay after the game, up and about and in relatively good spirits.
"It was a horrible knock for him so he will be out this week."
And on Kemeny, Dowson said: "Same. Trying to cover back on (Alex) Dombrandt, he hit his head on the floor so he's going through the HIA process."
Centre Tom Litchfield (hamstring) and loosehead prop Tom West (knee) remained on Saints' unavailable list last weekend.
Dowson said: "They're on target.
"Tom West isn't too far away. He's started to join in with some training.
"Tom Litchfield is probably not going to be available until some time in the PRC (PREM Rugby Cup) block."
Meanwhile, Bordeaux head coach Yannick Bru says France scrum-half Maxime Lucu is set to be sidelined for around four to six weeks due to a knee sprain, ruling him out of Sunday’s clash with Saints.
"If Maxime Lucu works well, it will be four weeks,” Bru said at the open training session on Wednesday. “Otherwise, it will be six.”