Northampton Saints: Mallinder keen to keep homegrown star Diggin at Gardens
Pictures by Linda Dawson
SAINTS boss Jim Mallinder says if Paul Diggin keeps playing well there is a good chance he will he will be at the club next season.
Diggin started the Heineken Cup final last season, but has suffered injury and fallen down the pecking order at Saints this term
But he made his first start since October 8 on Saturday in the 46-14 LV=Cup defeat at Bath, standing in for Ben Foden at full-back and Mallinder was pleased with what he saw from the 27-year-old.
Mallinder said: “I think Paul Diggin played really well, he is a good full-back is Paul. He has been champing at the bit for an opportunity and I was pleased with him. If he keeps playing well there is a good chance he will be at Saints next year.”
It was Diggin’s 135th appearance for his hometown club, but just his sixth this season after scoring 14 tries in 28 games last season. He has been linked with a move to Worcester when his contract runs out at the end of the season, but Mallinder indicated Diggin, who started his rugby at BBOBs, has a future at Franklin’s Gardens if he plays well.
“Everybody has a future at the club unless they go and sign a contract for somebody else,” said Mallinder. “He’s played really well at Bath and that’s all he can do.”
With Saints needing to beat Wasps on Saturday to secure a place in the semi-finals of the LV= Cup, Diggin could get another chance to impress at full-back.
And after two defeats in a row following the Heineken Cup reverse against Munster, Mallinder is anxious to get back to winning games with four vital Aviva Premiership games to follow while the club is shorn of its England stars.
Mallinder said: “We have not had many Wanderers games lately so it has been difficult for players to get game time.
“It is a big step up against a number of individuals for Bath who have been playing week in, week out together. The lads have tried their best, but we can improve on that performance. We want to go out and beat Wasps at home.
“We need to get back to winning ways and perform well, there is no reason why we can’t do that against Wasps.
“We are still keen on this competition. We have always enjoyed the tournament ever since the first year when we went through and won it. We knew we would have our international players out and knew it would be a tournament to give other players game time.
“We are disappointed about losing at Bath, but we are still enthused about the tournament and looking forward to hopefully beating Wasps.”
Jon Sleightholme - page 44
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