Burrell says Saints have to concentrate on ‘getting the game plan right’

Burrell and Co have suffered three successive league defeats, leaving them just three points clear of Leicester in the race for a top two spot.

London Irish are the visitors to Franklin’s Gardens on Sunday, with games at Bath and at home to Wasps concluding the regular season.

And Burrell knows he and his team-mates must learn from losses like the 28-24 reverse at Saracens last Sunday if they are to bring silverware back to Northampton.

“We are title contenders and we’ve got three games to go now,” said the England star.

“We’ve got Leicester pushing us and it’s about having a solid final six weeks of the season now and pushing on.

“Okay, we’ve had three defeats on the bounce now, but we’re not going to get too carried away with that.

“We’ve got the players in the dressing room to take apart any team in Europe so it’s about getting the game plan right and making sure we can run it at the weekend.”

Burrell has been one of a group of six international stars readjusting to life back at Saints following the Six Nations in recent weeks.

But the 26-year-old, who has scored three tries in five England outings, is refusing to use reintegration as an excuse for the recent poor form.

“The transition’s quite smooth,” he said. “I’m quite lucky because I’m surrounded by a group of internationals who have all done it so the advice is there.

“It’s just about getting back into the Northampton way as soon as possible.

“I don’t think it’s been an issue for us and we’ll look back at Sunday’s game and put things right against Irish.”