JON WELSH claims Newcastle Falcons are in a “much better place” than they were last season as they prepare to kick off the new Aviva Premiership campaign with a home game against Sale Sharks.

Falcons entertain Sale at Kingston Park tonight, with Welsh due to make his first competitive outing since January’s victory over Bath.

The Scottish front rower has been struggling with a toe injury, but having contributed to a successful pre-season, is looking forward to the real action getting underway.

“I think results in pre-season do matter, whatever some people might say,” said Welsh, who played in warm-up wins over Edinburgh, Doncaster and Nottingham. “A run of victories builds momentum going into your first league game. We have won all of our games against some good teams and as a result the confidence here is very high.

“I think we are in a completely different place to where we were last season. That is just through getting the foundations right in pre-season, by which I mean shape on the pitch, game plan and things like that, but also off the field.

“Everyone knows each other that bit better, the new signings have bedded in well and we are definitely in a much stronger position.

“A lot of players came late into the group because of the World Cup (last summer) and there were a lot of new signings, so we didn’t have that luxury of building a team and gelling in the way that most teams would have in pre-season.

“It felt around Christmas time that we were starting to build something good, but that was when my injury came. I wasn’t able to be out there for the rest of the season and it is great now to be back and looking forward to games.”

 Forced to watch the back half of last season from the stands, the 2014-15 Pro 12 title winner said: “Injury is the bane of any player’s career, and to get it so early into the club season was really heart-breaking.

“If you’re a front-row forward I don’t think you can really take a break at any point at all. The staff were brilliant here on the medical and the strength and conditioning side, they put me through my paces and looked after me at the same time.

“My outlook now is that last season is completely gone, we have put it behind us and everyone is focused purely on Sale Sharks.

“You do as much analysis as you can, but the general consensus among the squad and the staff here is that everyone is just really excited. I have obviously been out for a lot longer so I really can’t wait to get into it. We have had a good look at Sale, we are in a good place and we feel like we’re ready.”

Vereniki Goneva will make his first Premiership start for Newcastle tonight, with director of rugby Dean Richards having named the same side that started last Friday’s final pre-season win at Edinburgh.

Welsh will be partnered by Scott Lawson and Taione Vea in the front row, with Canadian forward Evan Olmstead making his top-flight debut after scoring in all three of his pre-season outings.

“We have not had as many signings as this time last year, and a couple of those who have come in have only done so in response to long-term injuries,” said Richards. “Overall, we have a much greater degree of stability within the squad, we have retained our core and everyone is working well together.

“Everybody here is in a good place and we haven’t lost a game yet. Confidence is high, we have a much better squad than last year, and everyone is vying for selection. There is competition all over the place, and we are chomping at the bit to get into the games.”

Newcastle Falcons: Hammersley, Goneva, Harris, Socino, Sinoti, Delany, Takulua; Welsh, Lawson, Vea, Green, Witty, Olmstead, Welch, M Wilson.

Replacements: Sowrey, Rogers, Lockwood, Fonua, Chick, Egerton, Hodgson, Waldouck.