By PAUL REES

Close to a return: Alex Mitchell dives over to score for Saints in the Premiership final
PICTURE: Getty Images

CHAMPIONS Northampton made a steady rather than spectacular start to the Premiership but Lee Radford is confident they will move through the gears in the coming weeks.
Scrum-half Alex Mitchell, who has not played this season because of a neck injury and has been missed by England as well as the Saints, is closing in on a return.
“Alex has been training and is not far off full contact,” said Radford, who joined Northampton as defence coach in t...