Saints boss Mallinder backs Hartley to keep getting better
Hartley was thrown straight back into the starting 15 at Castres after missing more than a month of action due to a back problem.
But it was not a happy return for the England captain as Saints were crushed 41-7 at Stade Pierre Antoine.
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Hide AdAnd with international duty looming, Hartley will be keen to impress against Gloucester on Friday.
“It was a big ask for Dylan to come back in because he’s been out for a few weeks, but he’ll only improve over the games to come,” Mallinder said.
“I guess a positive from the game at Castres was that the bench came on and made a good impact, Mikey Haywood in particular.”
George North is another man who will soon be heading off on international duty.
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Hide AdBut that is presuming the hand injury that forced him off early in the second half last Saturday is not too serious.
“He took a bang to his hand so he got a bit of swelling and I don’t think there’s anything broken, fingers crossed,” Mallinder said.