SUPER MARO: YOU AIN’T SEEN NOTHING YET

MARO ITOJE has got some bad news for the rugby world – he is better than ever after coming back from injury.

The 22-year-old wonder kid, crowned European Player of the Year last season, is two games into his return for Saracens following six weeks off for surgery after cracking a bone in his hand against Scarlets in October.

He cracked open another bottle of bubbly after being named man of the match in last Saturday’s Champions Cup game against Sale and faces the same opponents in the return today. Lock Itoje – born in Camden to Nigerian parents – missed the autumn internationals after a stunning start with England – and has warned his opponents they have not seen anything yet.

Itoje (right) said: “It was my first injury and I felt as if I dealt with it well.

“I used it as an opportunity to work on other aspects, get a bit stronger and a bit fitter and I hope to prove in the coming weeks that I have come back a bit better than I was before.

“I’d be disappointed if I didn’t because that would be a lot of effort wasted.

“My main concern is getting better. What motivates me is being part of successful teams and teams that are always pushing for top honours, competing and winning trophies.

“That’s what motivates me as well as being a better player.”

Sarries boss Mark McCall said: “He is a young man so he is going to get a little bit stronger and a little bit more explosive. You can only judge him by how you see him train, how you see him prepare and how you see him play. “He has not blinked – last weekend he was phenomenal and I am sure that he will be this weekend as well.” Victory in Salford today would virtually guarantee holders Sarries a place in the quarter-finals and they are chucking the kitchen sink at it by naming their strongest available squad. Owen Farrell has recovered from the thigh injury that saw him replaced last weekend and fellow Grand Slammers Itoje, Alex Goode, George Kruis and Mako Vunipola all start with Jamie George on the bench.

Sale have included cross coder Denny Solomona on the wing just days after his controversial switch from Castleford.