George North has shaken off his Lions lows and is coming back to his best, according to his former Wales teammate Martyn Williams.
The Northampton wing endured a frustrating tour to New Zealand in the summer, four years after he was the most feared player in the Lions’ line-up when they won their 2013 series in Australia.
North managed just three matches for the Lions this year and failed to make the Test team to face the All Blacks before a hamstring injury ended his trip prematurely.
But the 25-year-old has quickly come back to form for his club in the Aviva Premiership – impressing in their victory against Leicester and then scoring the try that clinched a bonus point win over Bath last Friday.
Former Wales and Lions flanker Williams told the Northampton Chronicle, “He looks to me to be back to the old George North. He has a big year ahead and he is one of our word class players.
“Because he is such an iconic player, especially after what he did on the last Lions Tour in 2013 and what he does for Wales, he is a poster-boy since he was 18.
“But he has had to learn the game in the spotlight. Most players learn under the radar, but George is out there and everyone watches him.
“He will come back strongly. He is at a good club in Northampton and I am sure he is hungry after what happened with the Lions. He will be hungry to prove a point.”
North’s fringe status for the Lions this summer capped a demoralising and testing 18 months for the former Scarlets wing, during which he suffered repeated head injuries and a dip in form for both club and country.
But Williams – who was a teammate of North’s when the then 18-year-old made a two try-scoring debut against South Africa in 2010 – insists the best of the Saints player is still to come.
“It is tough on George. I played alongside him on his debut when he was 18 and he came in and scored two tries.
“You forget he is still a young man, it feels like he has been going on forever but he is still learning the game and learning about life in many ways.
“But there is a lot of pressure on George’s shoulders. It is never just an upward graph for any player, you have ups and downs.
“And George has had an up and down 12 months. Firstly, with injuries, which must have been very hard for him.
“That then co-insides with form so it is no wonder he has struggled but he is a phenomenal player and he is back playing well again for the Saints now.”
North is set to continue his revival away to London Irish on Sunday, before matches against Harlequins and Gloucester.
The Saints then turn to European action where the Ospreys will provide opposition in a tough Champions Cup pool that also includes Clermont Auvergne and Saracens.
