Foden joined Northampton from Sale Sharks last summer

Northampton Saints director of rugby Jim Mallinder has backed Ben Foden to return to the England fold after he was dropped from their Six Nations squad.

Instead of lining up against Wales on Saturday, the 23-year-old scrum-half or full-back will face Saracens in the Guinness Premiership on Saturday.

Mallinder told BBC Northampton: "I feel disappointed for Ben that he didn't get much opportunity.

"He knows what he has to do to return, hopefully he'll work hard and do that."

Foden came on as a substitute in the defeat of Italy last weekend but Paul Hodgson is on the replacements' bench for the match in Wales.

"He's got to take it on the chin. He knows he's not the finished article," added Mallinder.

"I suppose it's good for the club that he's been returned."

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