Christian Day tipped for big season
Dusty Hare has tipped Christian Day to be one of Northampton's best players throughout the Premiership this season.
The Northampton academy development and recruitment manager says that Day looks in better shape and better form than he did by this time last year and is tipping him to play a big role this season.
Day plays at lock and will have one of the most important roles in the team this season. He will have to keep the team defensively organised in order to make sure they concede fewer points, which is something that has been holding the club back in previous seasons.
Day has all of the skills and qualities needed to make good the claims that Hare has made. However, a lot of other clubs have made good signings this summer and it will be very difficult for Northampton to push for the top of the table.
Skills and qualities
Day is a physically big and imposing player and this means he is not likely to be pushed around. This should guarantee that he can control the area of the field that he plays in and this will allow the rest of the club to play around him.
He is deceptively quick for a big person. He does not look as though he will be very quick over short bursts and this could be the reason that he makes so many important tackles over the course of a long season.
He does not seem to carry any ego and looks like a club player in every sense. Hare has said that the main reason so few people talk about him regularly is because he likes to stay out of the spot light and away from the attention.
Hare said: "We have signed new players but don't forget Christian Day. He was playing very well and pushing Juandre Kruger until he got injured. I think this will be his big season – he needs to get to know the Northampton style. But once he begins to do that, he can push Stephen Myler and Shane Geraghty."
Scale of the task
The scale of the task that lies before Northampton is greater than ever before. It's important that Day and all of the other key players at the club pull together in order to give the Saints the best possible chance of success this season.
Bath have made a high number of high class signings this season. Sale have also done the same and have emerged as one of the best outside shots to win the Premiership in a very long time. The likes of Leicester, Saracens and Harlequins are always going to have a chance of winning the title because they have very deep and very high quality squads.
Northampton have always managed to maintain a very good home record and this is something they must continue. Not many teams go to Northampton and leave with points in the bag. The side must be perfect at home and then counter attack away in order to slowly climb the table.
Betting advice
More clubs could win the Premiership than ever before and it's vital you remember this when it comes to the team you'll back to win. Northampton do have it in them but they will be relying on a perfect run and not picking up many injuries along the way. You cannot rely on luck for a whole season if you want to win the league.
Day will not be the highest points scorer at the club this season so do not back him in this context.
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