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Cardiff Blues boss Danny Wilson says he is “over the moon” with the way Alex Cuthbert has performed since returning to the region from the World Cup.

It’s been a tough year for Wales and Lions winger Cuthbert who has struggled for confidence and form for much of the past 12 months.

He has come in for criticism from pundits and has received some very heavy stick on social media, particularly after the World Cup quarter-final exit against South Africa.

But Wilson has been delighted with the way the 25-year-old has bounced back in recent weeks with his efforts in the Blues jersey.

“I have got to pick up and comment on the performance of Alex Cuthbert,” said the head coach.

“He’s a player that has taken a fair bit of stick. I have been over the moon with his contribution.

Read more:Ospreys v Cardiff Blues derby is like a Welsh trial match, says Danny Wilson

“When he returned from the World Cup, we sat down and had a good chat about how he wanted to approach things coming back in.

“He wanted to get himself back involved in the game as quickly as he could, especially from an attacking point of view. We said how can we help you do that.

(Image: Getty Images)

“I think his work-rate off the ball has given him a lot of touches, getting him heavily involved in the game, which is what he needs at the moment. That has built his confidence a little bit.

“You know when a player is extremely committed by how he does things like chase kicks. He chases kicks off and things like that with huge commitment. Ultimately you have seen then some of the involvements that leads to in the game. He has come back in and been extremely positive and has put in some performances.”

The 40-cap Cuthbert is out of contract at the end of this season and it remains to be seen where his future lies, following links with Worcester.

While he has impressed in recent weeks, so has Blues flanker Ellis Jenkins, which makes the knee injury suffered by the 22-year-old all the more frustrating.

Jenkins suffered ligament damage in last Thursday’s Challenge Cup defeat at home to Harlequins and now faces around six weeks on the sidelines.

Read more:Punches, head-butts, poaching and verbals... the incredible history of needle between Cardiff Blues and the Ospreys

“It’s unforunate because he’s a player who was just getting some opportunity and playing well,” said Wilson. “It’s a shame that it’s happened, especially with his performance over the last two or three games. But it’s not as bad as we first thought, which is the positive side of it.”

(Image: Stu Forster/Getty Images)

With Jenkins crocked, it’s timely that fellow back rower Josh Navidi is in line for a return after sitting out the last few weeks with neck-shoulder problem.

The versatile breakaway could be involved in Saturday’s Guinness Pro12 Welsh derby against the Ospreys at the Liberty Stadium.

“Josh is making real good progress,” said Wilson. “He will hopefully be available for selection, although that will need to be ticked off towards the end of the week.

“We have made sure we haven’t pushed that process and turned a short term injury into a long term one. He seems to have recovered and we have strengthened it where we needed to.”

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Looking at the challenge ahead, Wilson said: “If this group can’t get motivated by an Ospreys away derby, they will never be motivated.

“And I am pretty certain from the way we have trained so far this week that the boys are extremely motivated. We are going to a side that in their last two games have been playing really well. They have had two good European performances with their internationals back and they are a well-drilled side.