George North returns from injury to replace Alex Cuthbert as Rob Howley names Wales side to face Scotland

George North will return from injury for Wales’s must-win encounter with Scotland on Saturday after recovering from a leg injury that ruled him out of the recent defeat by England just an hour before kick-off.

The 24-year-old Northampton Saints wing was initially named in the starting line-up for the Cardiff clash with England, but it became clear on the morning of the match 11 days ago that he would not be in a fit state to feature and was replaced by Cardiff Blues wing Alex Cuthbert.

North returns this weekend to take on Scotland at Murrayfield on Saturday, with Cuthbert dropping out of the matchday squad completely. After facing fierce criticism for his failure to step England wing Elliot Daly scoring the match-winning try at the Principality Stadium, Cuthbert returned to the Blues to star in their weekend 57-20 victory over Treviso, but that has not been enough for the 26-year-old to retain his place.

It means that head coach Rob Howley makes just one change to his starting XV, meaning he has chosen not to bring back Bath No 8 Taulupe Faletau. Instead, Gloucester’s Ross Moriarty maintains his place in the back-row alongside former captain Sam Warburton and openside flanker Justin Tipuric, with the trio impressing against England and also in the opening weekend 33-7 defeat of Italy, with Faletau remaining on the replacements’ bench.

The on change among the replacements sees fit-again Luke Charteris replace Newport Gwent Dragons lock Cory Hill after he recovered from a fractured hand that kept him out of the first two matches of the championship.

Howley, who named his side a day earlier than expected due to having a healthy squad, admitted that they have to step up again from the performance levels seen in Cardiff if they are to defend the 10-year unbeaten streak over Scotland.

"We have been able to select from a position of strength, which is a huge positive, and it is good to welcome George back into the starting XV and Luke on the bench,” said Howley.

"In terms of intensity and performance, we stepped up a level against England, and we need to take the positives from that performance and take it into 80 minutes against Scotland at Murrayfield.

"We know what we are capable of, and we want to deliver that on Saturday alongside the result, which international rugby is all about."

While Wales are still in contention for the Six Nations title, they know that defeat by Scotland would leave them all but out of the running, with England still unbeaten and Ireland, France and the Scots all sharing a record of one match lost so far.

Leigh Halfpenny (Toulon); George North (Northampton), Jonathan Davies (Scarlets), Scott Williams (Scarlets), Liam Williams (Scarlets); Dan Biggar (Ospreys), Rhys Webb (Ospreys); Rob Evans (Scarlets), Ken Owens (Scarlets), Tomas Francis (Exeter), Jake Ball (Scarlets), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys, capt), Sam Warburton (Cardiff Blues), Justin Tipuric (Ospreys), Ross Moriarty (Gloucester).

Replacements: Scott Baldwin (Ospreys), Nicky Smith (Ospreys), Samson Lee (Scarlets), Luke Charteris (Bath), Taulupe Faletau (Bath), Gareth Davies (Scarlets), Sam Davies (Ospreys), Jamie Roberts (Harlequins).