Alex Mitchell

Tom James (photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

James growing in belief as he shoulders scrum-half responsibility at Saints

Callum Hunter-Hill (photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Dowson delivers latest injury updates on Mitchell, Hunter-Hill and Lockett

Alex Coles (photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Saints boss Dowson delivers latest updates on Coles, Mitchell and Mayanavanua

Tom James (photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Bath v Northampton Saints: Full team news for the season opener

Alex Mitchell (photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Dowson delivers injury latest ahead of Saints' season opener at Bath

Tom James started at scrum-half against Bedford Blues last Friday (picture: Ketan Shah)

James still has plenty of targets despite achieving a lot since switch to Saints

Alex Mitchell scored the winning try in the Gallagher Premiership final last season (photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Saints scrum-half Mitchell is now hungry for more after his special summer

George Hendy helped Saints to claim final glory (photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Final hero Hendy made the most of Saints' title celebrations

Henry Pollock shone for England Under-20s (photo by Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images/Getty Images)

Dowson backs Pollock and Co to step up for Saints in season ahead

Ollie Sleightholme (photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)

Saints star Sleightholme set for England debut in New Zealand showdown

Alex Mitchell scored for England against Japan (photo by Toru Hanai/Getty Images)

Saints star Mitchell on the mark as England start Summer Series with a win

George Furbank (photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Saints full-back Furbank can't wait to get started as England face Japan

Glory boys... Alex Mitchell and Tom Pearson of Saints celebrate with the Gallagher Premiership trophy at Twickenham (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

IN PICTURES: Saints secure stunning Premiership title success

Saints will go on a victory parade from Franklin's Gardens to the Guldhall on Sunday from 2pm

Supporters invited to attend Saints victory parade in Northampton on Sunday

Courtney Lawes lifted the Premiership trophy on his final Saints appearance (photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Lawes 'livid' and 'over the moon' after helping Saints to claim title

Alex Mitchell scored the winning try for Saints (photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Waller salutes Saints team-mates for giving him perfect send-off at Twickenham

Alex Waller thanked his Saints team-mates for giving him the perfect send-off.

Tom Vickers

Saints are champions of England (photo by Steve Bardens/Getty Images)

Saints are champions of England after nerve-shredding win against Bath

Alex Mitchell (photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

'Weird but cool' - Mitchell so happy to get his own final chance with Saints

Fin Smith (photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Northampton Saints 22 Saracens 20: Tom Vickers' review and player ratings

Tom Wood is a fan of Phil Dowson's side (photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

'I'm their biggest fan' - legend Wood salutes current Saints squad

Saints were edged out at Croke Park (photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Leinster 20 Northampton Saints 17: Tom Vickers' review and player ratings

Alex Mitchell (photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Mitchell salutes Saints' 'squad effort' after success against Tigers

Tom James scored for Saints against Tigers (photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Saints deliver derby-day delight after Kata sees red for Leicester Tigers

Fin Smith (photo by Paul Harding/Getty Images)

Electric Saints batter Bulls to set up Champions Cup semi-final against Leinster

George Furbank (photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)

Northampton Saints v Vodacom Bulls: Full team news for Saturday's quarter-final

Alex Mitchell will be on the bench (photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Northampton Saints v Munster: Full team news for Sunday's Champions Cup clash

RG Snyman is set to return against Saints (photo by RODGER BOSCH/AFP via Getty Images)

Leamy summons spirit of 2008 as Munster relish underdogs tag at Saints

Defence coach Denis Leamy insists Munster will relish being the underdogs when they travel to face Saints on Sunday.

Tom Vickers

Tom James returns for Saints (photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Northampton Saints v Saracens: Full team news for Friday's Premiership game

Alex Mitchell (photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Saints to assess England star Mitchell ahead of Saracens showdown

Saints fly-half Fin Smith (right) sat out training during the England session held at the LNER Community Stadium last week (photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

'You never want to get that message' - Saints boss Dowson on England injuries

Alex Mitchell during England training in York last week (photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Mitchell returns to England selection picture ahead of Ireland showdown

Tom Pearson played for England A against Portugal last Sunday (photo by Matthew Lewis/Getty Images)

Six Saints players named in England squad for three-day York training camp

Alex Mitchell (photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Saints get good news on Mitchell injury

Alex Mitchell during England's open training session held at Twickenham on Friday (photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Saints star Mitchell ruled out of England's Six Nations clash with Scotland

Fin Smith in England training (photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

England boss Borthwick so impressed with partnership of Saints half-backs

Fin Smith was sensational for Saints at Thomond Park (picture: Claire Jones/RedHatPhoto.com)

Munster 23 Northampton Saints 26: Tom Vickers' review and player ratings

Gabriel Hamer-Webb (photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)

Saints sign former Bath wing Hamer-Webb on short-term deal

Tom Pearson scored a hat-trick for Saints (photo by Ben Stansall / AFP) (Photo by BEN STANSALL/AFP via Getty Images)

Pearson at the treble as Saints fly into Champions Cup last 16 with huge win

George Furbank shone for Saints (photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

Exeter Chiefs 36 Northampton Saints 42: Tom Vickers' review and player ratings

Alex Mitchell signed a new deal at Saints on Friday (photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Keeping current squad together is so key for Saints in hunt for silverware

Alex Mitchell scored against Sale last weekend (photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

'One of the most talented scrum-halves in the world' - Mitchell signs new deal

George Furbank led Saints to victory (photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Northampton Saints 21 Sale Sharks 17: Tom Vickers' review and player ratings

Alex Sanderson (photo by Matthew Lewis/Getty Images for Sale Sharks)

Opposition view: Sanderson proud of Sharks' performance against Saints

Saints celebrated a win against Sale Sharks (photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Saints go top of the table as they claim superb comeback success against Sale

George Furbank (photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Furbank hails Saints for staying in the fight to secure win at Gloucester

Curtis Langdon scored twice for Saints (photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Saints make it a merry Christmas as they snatch dramatic win against Gloucester

Alex Mitchell (picture: Ketan Shah)

Mitchell insists Saints are relishing tough schedule

Franco Smith (photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Opposition view: Glasgow boss Smith impressed with 'outstanding' Saints star

Alex Mitchell got back to stop Sebastian Cancelliere (photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Saints end winless Champions Cup streak with superb victory at Glasgow Warriors

Phil Dowson (photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Dowson delighted with every aspect of Saints' superb showing at Saracens

Marcus Smith was in action for Harlequins (photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Opposition view: Three points dropped for Harlequins at Saints, says Wilson

Ollie Sleightholme scored twice for Saints (photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Sleightholme scores twice as Saints secure thrilling win against Harlequins

Alex Mitchell marked his Saints return with a try last Sunday (picture: Ketan Shah)

The big interview: Tom Vickers talks to Saints and England star Alex Mitchell

Courtney Lawes (photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

Northampton Saints v Exeter Chiefs: Full team news for Sunday's game

Trevor Davison missed the clash with Bath due to illness (photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

Dowson delivers Saints injury and availability latest ahead of Exeter encounter