Gloucester will this week announce the fly-half who will replace Freddie Burns next season, with the Scotland captain, Greig Laidlaw, who plays scrum-half for his country, the leading contender.

Burns, who started England's two Tests in Argentina last summer, has seen his international standing diminish after a difficult season with Gloucester. He has not profited from the France-bound Toby Flood's non-availability, with Bath's George Ford now Owen Farrell's deputy, while his opposite number on Saturday, Stephen Myler, may pip him for a place in the squad touring New Zealand in June.

Even though Burns is leaving Kingsholm, with Leicester his likely destination, the Gloucester director of rugby, Nigel Davies, believes a player who stood out in the Premiership last season will rise again. But his lack of confidence was evident by the way he stood deep against the league leaders and rarely attacked the line.

"There is a lot going on with Freddie and his form issue is quite complicated," said Davies. "He will be disappointed with his performance and he looked out of sorts. He can certainly get things back on track and press for a place in England's World Cup squad.

"When I was in Wales, the likes of Neil Jenkins and Stephen Jones had their down times and got slated but they always bounced back, and that is what Freddie has to do. He still has a big role to play with us for the rest of the season and we will be announcing an outside-half signing this week."

Gloucester's problems this season have not stemmed from Burns's loss of form. They have struggled up front and, after an even opening 55 minutes when they had hopes of recording the double over a team whose only league defeat had come at Kingsholm, they cracked under Northampton's powerplay, leaking four tries.

"Northampton are becoming a formidable side," said Davies. "They are very strong in the set-pieces, giving them a solid foundation, and they have a highly accurate goal-kicker.

"Their record speaks for itself, but both teams were pretty ordinary in the first half before they put us under a lot of pressure and we conceded penalties. We have not given up on the season and there is still a lot to play for."

It was Northampton's 11th consecutive Premiership victory and a difference with previous seasons is that they are making light of the absence of their England internationals.

Replacing Luther Burrell at inside-centre was the 19-year old Tom Stephenson, who scored one of their five tries by stepping out of two tackles and made a number of breaks.

The strength in depth that the Saints have developed was illustrated at a scrum when they had replaced their entire front row. Gloucester were rudely shoved backwards before collapsing in a heap while behind the scrum the full-back, Ben Foden, made a significant impact from the bench after a 14-week lay-off.

Not that their director of rugby, Jim Mallinder, was overly impressed with a victory that took longer to secure than it should have. "We need to look after the ball a bit more and put opponents under pressure by taking play through phases," he said. "We have work to do on our attacking game."

Northampton: Wilson (Foden, 50); K Pisi, G Pisi (Hooley, 76), Stephenson, Elliott; Myler, Fotuali'i (L Dickson, 50); E Waller (A Waller, 50), Haywood (McMillan, 76), Ma'afu (Mercey, 53), Dickinson (Nutley, 66), Day, Clark, Dowson (capt), van Velze (Manoa, 33).

Tries: K Pisi, Clark, Stephenson, A Waller, Hooley. Cons: Myler 4. Pens: Myler 2.

Gloucester: Cook; Sharples, Trinder, Tindall (capt), M Thomas (Monahan, 66); F Burns (B, Burns 61), Robson (Knoyle, 66); Y Thomas (Murphy, 54), Edmonds (George, 52), Harden (Puafisi, 51), Stooke (James, 51), Hudson, Cox, Kvesic, Evans (Moriarty, 66).

Try: Trinder. Con: Burns. Pens: Burns 2. Sin-bin: James 73. Referee: T Wigglesworth (Yorkshire) Att: 13,238