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Alex Cuthbert could be in line for a dramatic return to the Wales team for Saturday’s autumn finale against Australia at the Millennium Stadium.

The Lions winger has been sidelined since suffering a hairline ankle fracture during the Blues’ Heineken Cup victory over European champions Toulon in mid-October.

It was expected that was an injury which would rule him out of the entire autumn campaign and he was omitted from the Welsh squad as a result.

But he has recovered ahead of schedule and is now in with an outside chance of facing the Wallabies in Cardiff this weekend.

He is back in the Welsh camp and his progress will be reviewed over the next couple of days ahead of the team announcement on Thursday.

It would be a big call to throw the 23-year-old straight back into such a huge match after six weeks out of action.

But he was in sensational try-scoring form before picking up his injury and has become such an important part of Wales’ attacking game over the past couple of years.

Commenting on Cuthbert’s condition, a Wales team spokesman said: “The Blues and WRU medical staff have been working closely together to ensure Alex returns to fitness as quickly and safely as possible.

“He will continue to be assessed by the WRU medics this week.”

Blues director of rugby Phil Davies said he was delighted with the progress try-machine Cuthbert has made.

“Alex has recovered really well,” he said. “He’s up with the national team at the moment and he may be involved next week.

“I am not sure what his exact status is and whether he is actually ready to play.

“But he’s not far off, which is great considering we thought he would be out for a longer period than he actually has been, so that’s pretty pleasing.”

If the 18-cap Cuthbert does receive the green light, he could join fellow Lions Leigh Halfpenny and George North in the Wales back three, with North free to play in this out-of-window Aussie Test having secured full international release in his Northampton contract.

There’s also positive news about centre Scott Williams, who suffered a toe ligament injury against Argentina and sat out last Friday’s scrappy win over Tonga.

Wales are hopeful he will be fit to face the Wallabies, which is good news with fellow midfielders Jamie Roberts, Jonathan Davies and Cory Allen all crocked.

If Williams is fit, then it would be a battle between Ashley Beck and Owen Williams to play alongside him in the centre.