The already-relegated club shipped 60 points in that match at the Ricoh Arena - suffering their heaviest ever Gallagher Premiership defeat, and they were in similar trouble early on against Northampton.

McCall’s side initially went 12-0 down and lost three of their most experienced players - Jackson Wray, Alex Goode and Duncan Taylor - to injury.

But tries from Rotimi Segun, Jack Singleton, Nick Tompkins and Ben Earl saw Saracens fight back to win 27-21 at Franklin’s Gardens.

"It was a great performance for lots of reasons,” said McCall. 

“To be 12-0 down after the result last weekend against Wasps and then we lost Wray, Goode and Taylor to injury - so there were lots of reasons for us to collapse.

"But the fact we didn't is so pleasing and makes us so proud. 

“To see them back themselves and fight for each other was really pleasing."

It was Saracens’ eighth domestic victory of the season - level with Exeter Chiefs in terms of most wins, as they look to maintain form ahead of next month’s Heineken Champions Cup quarter-final against Leinster.  

While it was England’s new man Earl who sealed the victory for Saracens, it was the assured display of veteran scrum-half Richard Wigglesworth which caught the Sarries boss’ eye.

“I thought Richard was incredible, particularly when we lost the other players,” McCall said.

“Ben Earl was really keen to play and he knew we were in a bit of a pickle in terms of injuries. Ben had an outstanding game and Tompkins was outstanding as well.”

Saracens host Leicester Tigers next Saturday at Allianz Park, but with a number of players on Guinness Six Nations duty and injuries picked up against the Saints, McCall admits it could be a difficult week for his injury-stricken squad.

"All three lads who came off were due to concussions,” he said. 

“Certainly in Jackson and Goode's case they were quite severe so we'll be doing well to piece together a team next weekend.”