Catt poised for comeback

England international Mike Catt looks set to end weeks of injury misery by making his comeback in Bath’s Parker Pen Challenge Cup clash against Montauban on Saturday.

Catt, troubled by a hamstring problem for much of the season, has not played since Bath tackled Zurich Premiership rivals at Heywood Road in late November.

But the 56-cap centre will probably be among Bath’s replacements for their quarter-final second leg tie.

“Last week I did a lot of running, and this week I’ve done full contact,” he said.

“I have not felt it at all so for me to go and do the hamstring again now in a game, would be very unlucky. I am sure that it will be all right.”

Catt’s injury-ravaged campaign meant he could not challenge for England recognition during their autumn Tests against New Zealand, Australia and South Africa.

A clear run though during the next month – Bath face Montauban, then a Powergen Cup quarter-final appointment with Northampton, plus two Premiership games – could put the 31-year-old in England boss Clive Woodward’s thoughts.

But while Catt ponders a possible return, his Bath and England colleague Mike Tindall is battling to make the Montauban match.

Tindall has not trained this week because of a shoulder problem, and a final decision on whether he plays will be made tomorrow. Alex Crockett is standing by.

Bath lost the first leg 27-24 in France last weekend, yet they will fancy their chances of overturning that deficit and securing a semi-final, probably against Saracens, in April.