MELBOURNE has welcomed back Jack Watts for Sunday’s clash against Fremantle at Patersons Stadium, but Jimmy Toumpas will miss due to an ankle injury.

Along with the inclusion of Watts, Melbourne has included Shannon Byrnes, Tom Gillies and Jake Spencer in its 25-man squad.

Byrnes, Jordie McKenzie, James Strauss, Daniel Nicholson, Gillies, Rohan Bail and Spencer have been named on the extended bench, with the final team to be announced on Friday.

Watts, who has missed the past three matches, returns after sustaining a hamstring injury in round five against the Brisbane Lions.

Coach Mark Neeld said Watts’ inclusion was important, given his ability to play up forward or down back.

“He’s shown in the last 12 to 18 months that he’s got good versatility at either end of the ground,” he said.

“We know that he’s a really good user of the footy, so if we can get the ball in his hands across half-back that will help us.”

Toumpas made his return to the Melbourne line-up last round, but rolled his ankle in the second quarter, which forced him to be subbed off.

Byrnes had played every game this year until last round, when a persistent wrist injury prompted Melbourne to rest the dual Geelong premiership player.

Elite performance manager David Mission said Byrnes was ready to play this week.

“Byrnesy had a minor wrist [injury] that he’d been carrying for a couple of weeks and we felt we just needed it to settle down,” he said.

Gillies and Spencer have been rewarded for their good form at Casey.

Spencer had 36 hit outs and 13 disposals for the Scorpions last week, while providing great defensive pressure and involvement around the ground.

Gillies played in Melbourne’s opening two matches, but missed rounds three and four with a groin injury. He has since played in the VFL and been a solid contributor in the backline.

Round nine Melbourne team
B: Lynden Dunn, James Frawley, Dean Terlich
HB: Jack Watts, James Sellar, Colin Garland
C: Jack Trengove, Michael Evans, Matt Jones
HF: Luke Tapscott, Jeremy Howe, Neville Jetta
F: Max Gawn, Chris Dawes, Aaron Davey
FOLL: Mark Jamar, Nathan Jones, James Magner
I/C (from): Shannon Byrnes, Jordie McKenzie, James Strauss, Daniel Nicholson, Tom Gillies, Rohan Bail, Jake Spencer
IN: Shannon Byrnes, Tom Gillies, Jake Spencer, Jack Watts 
OUT: Jimmy Toumpas (ankle)