Andrew van der Heijden is delighted to be back in the mix ahead of this Saturday’s Aviva Premiership clash against London Irish (kick-off 3pm).

The 27-year-old Kiwi lynchpin made his return to action as a second-half replacement in last weekend’s narrow 30-24 defeat at Bath after being sidelined for five weeks with a rib injury.

“It was a big step coming back last weekend and the lungs were going again after six weeks out,” said van der Heijden.

“The knee was a little bit sore afterwards but the adrenalin during the game got me through and it seems to have stood up OK,” added the Auckland-born lock.

And van der Heijden, who moved to the North East outfit in November 2010 has seen a major shake-up in the backroom set-up during his time out which has boosted morale in the camp according to the New Zealander.

“All coaches come in with a different philosophy, but Gary has been very good from what I have experienced so far,” said van der Heijden.

“He has simplified the game-plan, the lads all know what they need to be doing and I am sure it will stand us in good stead.

“We are not wasting energy trying to attack from our own goal-line or inside our 22, and it has shown that when we get into the opposition territory we have the intensity to get points on the board,” he added.

Explaining the rib injury picked up in the Boxing Day fixture at Sale Sharks, van der Heiden said: “It was a twist that did it, and it was actually pretty pathetic how it happened because it was in the very first minute after coming on as a replacement.

“I hobbled around on it for another 10 minutes, but in the end I had to get it sorted.”

This Saturday’s clash with Irish is a match in support of the Children’s Heart Unit Fund (CHUF) as North East entrepreneur Graham Wylie and Falcons owner Semore Kurdi unite.

Tickets are available for the game by calling 0871 226 6060 or click here to purchase online.