Mark McCall hailed his Saracens players for staying focused during a turbulent season after they secured a ninth Premiership win of the season against Leicester Tigers.

The defending champions have been automatically relegated due to salary cap breaches, leaving the future of many of their players up in the air.

But the off-field uncertainty has not affected their results, with wing Alex Lewington crossing twice in a convincing 24-13 win.

And McCall was beaming at full-time after watching his side cruise past the Tigers, who are 11th in the table.

"We've won nine out of our 13 games this season, we'd be second in the table,” he said.

"Given that we haven't picked many of our international players for many of our league games and everything that's going on behind the scenes, I can't speak more highly of our playing group, the positives for us this year is just how many younger players have got exposure and have relished their chances and opportunities.”

Lewington scored his first try of the game early on but two Tom Hardwick penalties reduced the gap to just a point at the break.

Ben White’s try then put the visitors ahead but they soon lost Telusa Veainu to the sin-bin and were punished, with Dom Morris powering his way over before Lewington sealed it.

And McCall believes the future, although uncertain, is bright with the likes of flanker Sean Reffell and centre Morris impressing at Allianz Park.

"Sean Reffell had an outstanding game at seven, he's a very young man and to play against a pack the size of Leicester's pack and make the contribution he did was great, Dom Morris had a great game at 13.

"We had a nice balance in the team between some experienced players who fronted up and some younger players who are on the start of their journeys and overall it was a good game for us."