Anthony Allen returns to the Leicester Tigers line-up for the trip to Newcastle Falcons on Good Friday.

Allen, the Players’ Player of the Year, sat out the match against former club Gloucester last week but returns to partner Manu Tuilagi at centre.

Matt Smith also returns to the starting line-up, and Jeremy Staunton and James Grindal are named at half-back with Toby Flood and Ben Youngs resting injuries.

Marcos Ayerza and George Chuter are included in the front row, while Ed Slater comes into the second row and captain Craig Newby returns at openside.

Tigers director of rugby Richard Cockerill said: “A couple of the guys have been nursing a few little niggling injuries and we have to look after ones like Toby and Ben who have played a lot of rugby recently, as we did with Craig Newby and Anth Allen last week.

“Newcastle is a tough trip but we have been very consistent through the season and we want to maintain those high standards.”

Jordan Crane, Steve Mafi and Louis Deacon are ruled out by injury this week.

Leicester Tigers (v Newcastle Falcons, away, Friday 6pm)

15 Scott Hamilton

14 Matt Smith

13 Manu Tuilagi

12 Anthony Allen

11 Alesana Tuilagi

10 Jeremy Staunton

9 James Grindal

1 Marcos Ayerza

2 George Chuter

3 Martin Castrogiovanni

4 Ed Slater

5 George Skivington

6 Tom Croft

7 Craig Newby (c)

8 Thomas Waldrom

Replacements

16 Rob Hawkins

17 Boris Stankovich

18 Dan Cole

19 Calum Green

20 Ben Woods

21 Sam Harrison

22 Billy Twelvetrees

23 Horacio Agulla