Paterson returns to Edinburgh side after injury

CHRIS PATERSON returns to the Edinburgh Rugby bench after a month-long absence for the game against Castres Olympique in the Heineken European Cup at Murrayfield on Friday.

Scottish cap record holder Paterson has been suffering rib damage but is expected to play at some stage, epecially with the start of the Six Nations Championship looming.

Edinburgh make five changes from the side which defeated Ulster last week, the most notable being the decision to rest Mike Blair in favour of Greg Laidlaw at scrum half. Ally Hogg takes over the captaincy.

Other changes see a quick return for Nick De Luca at the expense of John Houston while up front Gavin Kerr takes over from Geoff Cross and Ben Gissing is given a run at lock for Jim Hamilton.

In the back row, Scott Newlands returns for the ineligible Roddy Grant with Simon Cross starting at open-side flanker as revealed last week by the Evening News.

Edinburgh: Southwell, Turnbull, Cairns, De Luca, Webster, Godman, Laidlaw, Jacobsen, Ford, Kerr, C Hamilton, Gissing, Newlands, Hogg, captain, S Cross. Subs: Kelly, Traynor, J Hamilton, MacDonald, M Blair, Houston, Paterson.