Boyd gives Saints squad update as return to action edges ever closer

Chris Boyd has given an update on how the Saints squad is shaping up ahead of next month's return to action.
Nick Isiekwe will arrive at Saints on August 1Nick Isiekwe will arrive at Saints on August 1
Nick Isiekwe will arrive at Saints on August 1

The boss spoke to us on Tuesday morning, revealing that, as it stands, only one player will be absent for the first game of the Gallagher Premiership restart.

Saints are set to click back into gear on Sunday, August 16 when Wasps come to Franklin's Gardens for the Round 14 match that was initially scheduled for March.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

And when asked whether everyone will be available for that game as it stands, Boyd said: "Alex Waller won't be back to start with because of his Achilles tendon.

"We would be optimistic to think we'd get through the next period of time and think we won't get any dings - it's just something we have to live with.

"But certainly we've got a pretty big roster to pick from, which is nice."

New arrivals such as Nick Auterac, Danny Hobbs-Awoyemi and Tom James are now part of the squad.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

But Saints are still waiting for two of their summer signings, Saracens loanee Nick Isiekwe and South African back row forward Shaun Adendorff.

Boyd explained: "Those two are the last two players, apart from the Academy guys, to arrive.

"We've got a couple of weeks where we'll split our training up into small groups, but from next Monday, we'll be much more connected but still socially distancing and still trying to minimise different contacts between guys.

"Nick (Isiewke) comes to us for August 1 and Shaun Adendorff is just waiting for his visa to come out of France.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"Certainly in the next couple of weeks, everyone will be on board."

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you to also please purchase a copy of our newspaper when you do your weekly shop.

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards in the world. But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news and information by buying a copy of our newspaper.

Thank you

Related topics: