ALFIE Barbeary made his first start for three months in Wasps’ narrow 20-19 defeat at home to Sale Sharks.

The Banbury Bulls youth product’s breakthrough season was stopped in its tracks when he suffered a high ankle sprain against the same opponents in late December.

Barbeary, from Deddington, came on as a replacement in Wasps’ loss to Newcastle Falcons the previous weekend, but played the whole 80 minutes on Saturday.

It was not a winning return to the starting XV, though, as Sale held on despite four second-half yellow cards.

Barbeary will be looking to get himself in England’s squad for their summer tour of North America after missing out on the Six Nations.