John Barclay will return for Scotland in their Six Nations opener with England on Saturday.
The Scarlets flanker, 29, has not been included in three Six Nations campaigns and was excluded from last year’s World Cup squad.
Barclay will gain his 46th cap on Saturday and will play alongside John Hardie and David Denton in a mobile Scottish back row.
Although he featured in two of Scotland’s World Cup warm-ups last summer having been left out since 2013.
Scotland head coach Vern Cotter was very complimentary of Barclay’s ability and versatility.
John has been playing eight for Scarlets and I think he has the skill-set to play in that position and slip into six and become a link player and ball carrier and he’s able to take ball on the ground as well.
He is a smart player with 40-odd caps and that experience is important in Six Nations matches. He is a proud rugby player and he’s showed a lot of enthusiasm. Trying to get the jersey off his back will be really hard
Glasgow centre Mark Bennett will also make a return to the starting line-up following a shoulder injury .
Bennett will partner Matt Scott in the centres, whose return is the only other change to the side that narrowly lost 35-34 to Australia in the World Cup quarter-final.
