NEWCASTLE FALCONS have recalled wing duo Adam Radwan and Ben Stevenson ahead of tomorrow's Gallagher Premiership home game against London Irish.

Radwan, who has scored 32 tries in his 42 senior appearances, is back to full fitness having been out with a knee injury picked up during February's 25-22 home win over Harlequins.

Stevenson, who has scored three Premiership tries this season, returns after missing the trip to Gloucester two weeks ago, and forms part of a side showing four changes from the Kingsholm clash.

Captain Mark Wilson is back to lead a starting XV which includes nine academy graduates, while Springbok cap Louis Schreuder comes in at scrum-half.

Barnstorming back-rower Carl Fearns could be set for his Falcons debut having been named on the bench, with fly-half Joel Hodgson also returning to the match-day 23 among the replacements.

Keen to end the campaign strongly as his side enters the last five rounds of league action, Falcons director of rugby Dean Richards said: “We had a great start to the season but we’ve been hampered by things like Covid and injuries, and we just want to end on a high.

“We’ve taken the opportunity to blood some of our youngsters, which will be good in the long run, and we’re going to use these last five games in a really positive way.”

Having led at Gloucester last time out only to be hit by a second-half comeback, the Falcons boss added: “We always talk about consistency, and that’s what you aim for.

“At Gloucester we played really well for just over half an hour but dropped off afterwards – a lot of it due to injuries in key positions and a pretty strong wind, in fairness.

“We’ve tried to freshen the boys up a bit, because they were pretty jaded and tired after the Gloucester game. They’ve had time to recuperate, they’ve come back fresh and we’re all just looking forward to the London Irish game now.”

Newcastle lost an entertaining game 31-22 when they played the Exiles in January, with Richards saying: “When we played London Irish earlier in the season I said with the squad they’ve got and outlay they’ve made, they’re a serious top-four contender."