England lock Courtney Lawes should be ready for the new season, despite spending most of 2012 on the sidelines.
Knee and shin injuries meant the 23-year-old missed all of the Six Nations and only played two games for Northampton in the second part of last season.
Lawes then had elbow surgery on Tuesday but Saints performance director Nick Johnston is hopeful the forward will feature in the Premiership opener against Gloucester on September 1.
“Courtney’s rehabbing well,” said Johnston. “We hope to have him fit for the start of the season.
“He’s had a big pre-season so we’re not worried about that. Courtney is in very good shape, in terms of being physically fit and his running fitness.
“Our plan was never to rush him back because of the nature of his original injury.”
