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Tight-heap prop Craig Mitchell has given Wales a pre-Six Nations boost by returning from the bench as Exeter lost to Northampton. on Saturday.

Mitchell sustained a ruptured bicep in September against London Welsh.

In the meantime fellow Wales tight-head Adam Jones has suffered and recovered from a knee injury.

Jones' fellow Osprey Aaron Jarvis deputised in November, but is out for the season following a knee injury against New Zealand in November.

Versatile Scarlet Rhodri Jones has also recently returned following a shoulder injury.

In the absences of Jones, Mitchell and Jarvis, Cardiff Blue Scott Andrews earned plaudits for his performance against Australia in the last of Wales' four autumn defeats on 1 December, 2012.

In December Mitchell looked forward to his return by saying: "What Wales have achieved in the past year is massive and I want to be a part of it.

"The only way to do it is to be playing well for Exeter."

Mitchell, who has 11 Wales caps, has had an injury-interrupted two years after he forcing him out of the rest of that season.

He then had surgery on a torn shoulder earlier this year before suffering a bicep injury early in this campaign.

The 26-year-old , external and signed a contract extension in September that will keep him at Sandy Park until 2014.