Northampton Town needed a squad clearout this summer, but the departure of key, long-standing players has left some areas needing extra attention ahead of the new campaign.
Despite bringing in six new additions so far, the Cobblers released five players and saw another five return to their parent clubs, including Player of the Season Marc Leonard and another key player, Kieron Bowie.
Louis Appere, Shaun McWilliams, and Sam Sherring all rejected new offers from the club, leaving Jon Brady with 13 fewer players than he had at the end of last season.
While Town has balanced the departures with six new signings, here we look at three areas Northampton Town must prioritize for recruitment before their League One season opener on August 10.
Wingers
While Town’s primary wide options, Sam Hoskins and Mitch Pinnock, remain at the club, the squad has been left lacking depth on both flanks.
In Northampton’s first friendly of the summer, three trialists were used in wide positions throughout the game. These included former Luton player Admiral Muskwe, whom the Cobblers are considering signing according to Pete O’Rourke, as well as Todd Kane and Liam McCarron, who played as wing-backs, with McCarron particularly impressing with his runs up the left side.
Although Brady and his staff appear to be addressing the depth issue, the departure of Bowie leaves the Cobblers short of a pacey winger who excels in pressing—an essential component of Brady’s strategy, which is neither Pinnock’s nor Hoskins’ strong suit.
Tony Springett, on loan from Norwich City last season, played this role in the latter half of the season, often making late substitute appearances to inject pace and direct running into the team. Impact subs like Springett were crucial for Town, who scored numerous late goals, highlighting the importance of depth on the wings.
Midfield
The departure of last season’s Player of the Season, Marc Leonard, and academy product Shaun McWilliams, who ended his eight-year Northampton career, has left Brady with a rather thin midfield.
Despite signing Cameron McGeehan as a creative advanced option, presumably to replace Leonard, Northampton still heads into the campaign with a notably light midfield.
McGeehan joins Will Hondermarck, Jack Sowerby, and Ben Fox to form Brady’s midfield core. However, the recent injury records of Hondermarck, Sowerby, and Fox raise concerns about their availability over a demanding 46-game season.
Fox, although impressive, has recently returned from multiple injury troubles, which is reflected in his contract extension being only one year, with the club holding an option for a second. Meanwhile, Sowerby has yet to report for pre-season activities due to another issue.
Hondermarck offers a different option but can be vulnerable with only one other player alongside him, and is much more effective in a midfield three.
Adding a fifth central midfielder who can withstand League One’s grueling schedule must be a top priority for Brady and his recruitment team, even if this comes in the form of a loan. Town has only utilized one of their five loan spots so far, leaving room for strategic additions.
Strikers
Northampton has undergone a complete overhaul of their striker department this summer, with Danny Hylton and Louis Appere leaving the club, and Tyreece Simpson returning to Huddersfield Town after his loan spell.
As a result, the Cobblers had a clean slate regarding strikers and have already made good use of it by bringing in experienced target men James Wilson and Tom Eaves, as well as strong presser and poacher Callum Morton.
Town’s attacking threat and striker combinations appear strong on paper, but they still require more depth.
The return of Morton has excited supporters, given his prolific spell in the 2019/20 season and play-offs. However, he remains the Cobblers’ only striker under six feet tall.
Brady will undoubtedly prioritize finalizing his strike force during the remainder of pre-season. Establishing partnerships among the forwards will be crucial for the team’s success, especially considering that most of last season’s goals came from moments of brilliance by Hoskins. Ensuring the new strikers can gel with the rest of the team will be essential for Northampton’s survival in the upcoming campaign.
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