OWEN FARRELL will miss Saracens’ Gallagher Premiership home game against Northampton tomorrow because of a knee problem.
England captain Farrell is set to sit out the Six Nations after deciding to take a break from international rugby in order to “prioritise his and his family’s mental well-being,” but was still set to play club rugby.
The 32-year-old fly-half — who helped England to a third-place finish in the recent World Cup after losing to champions South Africa by a point in the semi-finals — picked up the injury during last weekend’s Premiership win over Bristol.
Saracens director of rugby Mark McCall has made eight changes from the side that faced Bristol, with Marco Riccioni (neck) and Eroni Mawi (calf) also sidelined while Tom Willis (knee) is still not yet available.
Manu Vunipola will start in the number 10 shirt in place of Farrell and Argentinian back-rower Juan Martin Gonzalez is set for his home debut as Saracans search for a sixth consecutive league win.