After London Wasps' third consecutive defeat of the season - ensuring their worst league start - the defending champions will be buoyed by the news that Danny Cipriani is set to return to action in nine days. Barring any last-minute setbacks, the England fly half will face Bath at Adams Park on October 1, a month ahead of schedule. It represents a remarkable recovery from the fracture dislocation of his right ankle that he suffered against Bath in the Guinness Premiership semi-final on May 18.

The 20-year-old missed England's summer tour to New Zealand because of an intensive rehabilitation programme. Since then he has featured more in the gossip columns more than sports pages because of his relationship with Kelly Brook, the model.

Wasps will welcome a strengthening of their back division after Josh Lewsey endured a torrid day at Franklin's Gardens. Twice he was exposed under the high ball. In the first minute, he let it bounce but his clearance kick was charged down by Bruce Reihana, who gathered to score. When Carlos Spencer unleashed an up and under inside the Wasps 22, Neil Best outjumped Lewsey and popped a pass to Chris Ashton to score his first try in the Premiership.

“There will be a bit of self-loathing this week but I'm not going to let it affect my performance,” Lewsey said. “I have played the game a long, long time and, as any competitive person in any industry knows, you learn by your mistakes. That's the nature of sport and you have to be patient and positive. It's a team game.”

It could get worse before it gets better for the Premiership champions. James Haskell and Richard Birkett appear before an RFU disciplinary panel today and Wasps face Leicester at Welford Road on Friday. Haskell, the England No8, is charged with head-butting, an offence that carries a recommended minimum ban of six weeks, during the defeat by Worcester Warriors eight days ago and Birkett, the lock, faces a charge of stamping.

Northampton outplayed, outmuscled and out-thought Wasps. In glorious conditions both teams were ready to play but the 34 penalties in the match made for a stop-start affair. Wasps were lucky not to be two tries adrift inside two minutes when Spencer jinked through the midfield linking with Reihana, who was brought down before the line.

They recovered well, with two penalty goals by Dave Walder and Dominic Waldouck's try, to take an 11-7 lead. Lewsey's error let Northampton back in and a 45-metre penalty by Walder levelled the scores at the break.

Reihana, who missed four of his five attempts, and Walder traded further penalty goals early in the second half, but the introduction of Stephen Myler proved the difference. Myler's cut-out pass to Sean Lamont created a third try for the home side and a deep hole for Ian McGeechan, the Wasps director of rugby, and Shaun Edwards, the head coach.

“The enthusiasm is there, we just have to be a bit cuter and a bit clever about what we're doing and we have to make sure that we keep pressuring games when we have the opportunities,” McGeechan said.