Liam Williams: Wales & Saracens star to return against Ospreys

Liam Williams made his Wales debut in 2012

Wales have been handed a Six Nations boost after Saracens wing Liam Williams was selected for their key European Champions Cup game against Ospreys.

Williams has not featured since sustaining a groin injury playing for Wales against Georgia on November 18.

The 26-year-old will face the Ospreys on 13 January with Warren Gatland naming his squad three days later.

"We've taken our time but he looks pretty good, said Saracens director of rugby Mark McCall.

"It's always a calculated gamble to bring someone back who hasn't played for a bit.

• Ospreys v Saracens

"But I think you do have the odd exceptional player who is able to do that and is good enough for you to want to put that player in. Liam is probably in that category."

Saracens, the defending European champions, trail the Ospreys by two points with two games left and know defeat at the Liberty Stadium would all but end their hopes of progress.

Saracens director of rugby Mark McCall (right) with England outside-half Owen Farrell

For Wales, Williams will be a welcome boost for Warren Gatland who has back three fitness doubts over George North and Hallam Amos.

Amos suffered an ankle injury in the Dragons defeat against Cardiff Blues on Boxing Day, while North has been sidelined until at least the end of January with a knee problem.

Williams can play wing or full-back and has won 45 Wales caps. He was one of the star performers of the British and Irish Lions' drawn series with New Zealand in the 2017 summer.

Wales also have back-row concerns with Sam Warburton (knee) and Dan Lydiate (bicep) ruled out of the Six Nations, while Bath's Taulupe Faletau will at least miss the first three games.

Gloucester back-rower Ross Moriarty has only played 40 minutes of rugby since the opening game of the Lions tour in June 2017 when he suffered a neck injury, but starts for Gloucester at Agen on Friday.

Gatland names his Six Nations squad on 16 January with Wales starting the tournament by playing Scotland in Cardiff on 3 February.