Chris Ashton will make his first appearance since completing his latest suspension when Saracens host Newcastle in the Aviva Premiership on Christmas Eve.

Ashton has served a 13-week ban for biting the arm of Northampton prop Alex Waller incurred in September and takes his place on the bench for the visit for the Falcons to Allianz Park.

The 29-year-old England wing, who has agreed to join Toulon at the end of the season, returns to a team captained by Owen Farrell in the injury-enforced absence of Brad Barritt.

Australia giant Will Skelton makes his first start for Saracens while Maro Itoje is moved from second row to blindside flanker.

Vereniki Goneva and Marcus Watson return on the wings for Newcastle, who face a punishing Premiership schedule comprising of fixtures against double winners Saracens, followed by title challengers Wasps and Bath.

"You couldn't ask for anything more difficult than playing the top three teams back to back, and it is a challenge for the boys," Newcastle director of rugby Dean Richards said.

"We will take from it what we can, and we are certainly not approaching it with any degree of fear.

"Saracens are without doubt a quality side, as you would expect from the English and European champion.

"They have got a squad which reflects that, so for us the challenge is to go down there and knock them off their perch. The boys are definitely up for it."