Saints fly-half Ford is starting to motor
Saints boss Jim Mallinder says new fly-half Joe Ford is already putting pressure on England squad members Stephen Myler and Shane Geraghty for the number 10 shirt.
Signed from Leeds in the summer, the 20-year-old is tipped as a star of the future, and while Geraghty and Myler have had an extended break because of their England tours, Ford has been quietly impressing the management.
And on Monday night Ford put in an immaculate kicking display as Saints beat Championship side Nottingham. The young fly-half landed four out of four kicks and kicked superbly out of hand as well.
With just 10 days to go to the Aviva Premiership opener against champions and east midlands rivals Leicester, Ford is in pole position to take the fly-half starting role.
Mallinder said: "Joe is already putting Myler and Geraghty under pressure in terms of training. He has had the added benefit of being here from the start of pre-season whereas the other two lads have been away with England for longer.
"It has been really good for him, he has had to get straight in there and in a way start as our number one 10.
"The other lads have come back and are putting pressure on each other, it can only be a good thing for the squad."
Myler and Geraghty will have one last chance to impress in the final pre-season game against new Magners League outfit Aironi on Friday night.
But Mallinder revealed he has admired Ford for quite a while after he burst on to the scene last season.
"I have watched him quite a lot," said Mallinder. "Dusty Hare has always been a big fan of him. He has got a good game understanding, he knows how to run a game.
"It is not all about him, but it is actually about how he can bring his forwards and backs into play. He has good distribution and a very good kicking game - he is just a good player."
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