But I’m happy here, I’ve fitted in well and, personally, the reward I’ll get is to see our wingers and full-back running tries, left, right and centre. There’s a lot of good players here who last year played without smiles on their faces. I want to change that.”Yet even as Goode mused over the prospects of an encouraging start at Bristol, the siren of a passing ambulance drowned out the conversation It was terribly apt. Sarries have been slapped in the face by Lady Luck so often you suspect there may be a permanent scar.

And they go into today’s match with their two big signings at forward (in every sense of the word “big”) crocked and unavailable. Craig Quinnell, the Welsh lock, is recovering from a knee operation, while Christian Califano, doyen of the French front row, damaged ankle ligaments last week.But Horan, who missed the last five matches of last season with a wrist injury, is on the bench, and Castaign? starts at full-back after 22 months of Achilles tendon trouble. Throw in England’s scrum-half, Kyran Bracken, and a trio of internationals outside in Ben Johnston, Tom Shanklin and Darragh O’Mahony, and it’s a back line bursting with potential. “To build a good relationship with Kyran will enhance my career within the England set-up,” said Goode. “Timmy Horan is the world’s best centre in the modern era; I’m picking things up from him in training. And Thomas is like a little kid again, just starting to play rugby. The backs have got strength in depth, they’re exciting, and if we can get the ball out to them I think we can do a lot of damage.”It is not as if Goode never got a look-in at Leicester Last season he started more than 20 matches But Tim Stimpson was first-choice goal-kicker.

And Healey intermittently took the No 10 jersey, most notably for the big one, the Heineken Cup final against Munster. But if Healey’s presence was evidently bad news for Goode, the latter is philosophical, reasoning that, at 22, his CV, which includes England Under-21 and A caps, is the envy of many.And he departed Welford Road on decent terms. “Tim [Stimpson] was the goal-kicking coach last year and I did a lot of work with him. He said when I left that he’d always help if I just gave him a ring.” Dean Richards might have something to say about that.Goode kicks well out of hand, and lacks nothing in confidence.