Saints centre Burrell aims to get back to his best

The big centre, who has been unable to hold down a first-team place, is hoping to get some game time in the coming weeks in light of Dom Waldouck’s recent training ground injury.

Waldouck was stretchered off the paddock in the week leading up to Saints’ home defeat to Leicester Tigers.

And the former Wasps player is now set to be sidelined for a period of months after having an operation on his injured hamstring.

For Burrell, who came off the bench in the final flings of the defeat to Tigers two Saturdays ago, it presents an opportunity to remind everyone of his credentials.

The 24-year-old scored three tries in his first four games for Saints after joining from Sale Sharks last summer.

But the scores have since dried up, with Burrell notching just two in his past 11 games.

He has found first-team rugby hard to come by, but, with three games of the Premiership regular season to go, Burrell’s hopes are high.

“It’s unfortunate what happened to Dom, but the opportunity is there for me to take now and to finish the season the way I started: on a high,” he said. “I want to help the boys qualify for that top-four place.

“The grounds are drying up now and that should suit my sort of game.

“Fingers crossed I’ll now be in with a shot at getting in the squad and maybe getting my starting spot back.”