Saints squad largely 'fit and healthy' ahead of Gloucester game

Chris Boyd says Saints will go to Gloucester 'in pretty good shape' next weekend.
Chris BoydChris Boyd
Chris Boyd

That is because the club has got over its 'little wobble' that caused the cancellation of the clash with Leicester Tigers on January 9.

Saints had been hit by a Covid-19 outbreak, but Boyd has confirmed that has now cleared up and, aside from long-term injury victim Danny Hobbs-Awoyemi, they could have a largely fully fit squad to call upon at Kingsholm on January 30.

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Boyd said: "From a Covid point of view we were clear last Friday and we were 100 per cent clear on Monday so we've got over our little wobble.

"In general terms, apart from Danny Hobbs-Awoyemi, who has a snapped Achilles tendon that is season-ending, one of the few silver linings of Covid is that this squad is pretty fit and healthy at the moment.

"We go to Gloucester next week and have nine Premiership games on the hop and we're in pretty good shape actually."

Saints have not played since beating Worcester Warriors 29-10 on Boxing Day as their following two Gallagher Premiership games were cancelled, one due to Covid-19 at London Irish and one because of the virus outbreak at Franklin's Gardens.

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The Champions Cup clashes with Leinster and Bordeaux did not get played as European competition has been suspended.

And after such a long spell on the sidelines, Boyd knows it will be a challenge for his side to click back into gear at Gloucester, who are currently bottom of the Premiership.

"We've done a lot of training and game simulation but we're going to play Gloucester next Saturday and it will be a first game for five weeks," Boyd said.

"When you have a six-week pre-season break and then go into games, you're always rusty just getting back into adjusting to the game and the speed of it and the severity of it in a genuine contest.

"It is going to be hard but we have to adjust as we go into nine league games in a row."

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