There was a welcome sight for Northampton Saints supporters as the team to face Harlequins this evening was announced, as Ollie Sleightholme was named in the starting line-up for the first time since February.
The 23-year-old has spent the last nine months on the sidelines, with concussion bringing an early end to his 2022/23 season before a hamstring injury sustained in Saints’ preseason training kept Sleightholme from making his first appearance of the season until Northampton’s home match against Exeter Chiefs two weeks ago.
But now the winger is back to full fitness and Sleightholme is relishing the chance to get back out in front of a raucous cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens crowd as Saints play under the Friday Night Lights this evening.
“My body feels good, so I’m happy to be back and out there with the boys,” said Sleightholme.
“There have been lots of ups and downs. But I’ve just been trying to stay in and around everyone, and just trying to keep myself focussed on something during that time, otherwise you can get quite bogged down with it.”
Ollie Sleightholme
“I think if you can keep doing something, and having targets which won’t be rugby at that point, but just setting yourself small targets keeps your mind focused on that rather than the fact that you’re not playing rugby.
“I was just desperate to get involved [against Exeter]. I just wanted to get myself into the game, which is difficult when you’re coming on with only a few minutes of the game left, but it was a good game to come back into. The way the boys had played against Exeter allowed me to come on and do what I wanted to do.”
Saints welcome Quins to Northampton in Round 7 of the Gallagher Premiership this evening, with huge clashes in both the league and Investec Champions Cup coming thick and fast for the men in Black, Green and Gold – with Saints set to face Saracens, Glasgow Warriors, RC Toulon and Gloucester Rugby all before Christmas.
And Sleightholme insists that he and the team are thriving on each game feeling like a massive match starting with Harlequins coming to town this evening, adding:
“That’s what the league is now, every game is a big game. That is good, because it is so competitive and challenging and an environment that you can really thrive in.
“[Quins] are a very good team, very dangerous, so I think we have got to have our eyes on that and be alert to everything they throw at us.
“And you can’t beat a Friday night game at the Gardens, there is nothing like it.”
The biggest home crowd of the season so far is expected at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens, but some tickets for Northampton Saints vs Harlequins remain and are still available to purchase HERE – with prices starting at £23 adults / £8 child*.
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