Injury News: Owen Farrell ruled out of clash with Northampton

The fly-half was set to play at Franklin's Gardens - where the England head coach will be watching on Saturday - but picked up a knock in training.

Mystery surrounds Farrell's blow. Saracens will not divulge which part of the body their star playmaker has injured but insisted it was a 'minor strain' and not thought to be serious.

Farrell had problems with his quadriceps last season. He missed several training sessions for England and Saracens in the run-up to big Six Nations and European Cup matches, but often managed to play on the Saturday.

He sat out contact sessions picking up a leg injury in the Wales Six Nations match in February, but then featured against Scotland.