The defender was originally signed on an emergency loan, and under the rules of such deals he must return to parent club Wolves after 93 days at Sixfields.

That means Little's final game will be the home match against Luton Town a week on Saturday.

And the 19-year-old admits he will return to Molineux with a heavy heart after three very successful months with Town, both on a personal level and for the team.

"It's beyond anyone's control," he said. "It's just the Football League rules, I've got to go back.

"I'm a bit down about going back because I've been here for a little while now and I really feel like I'm part of the club.

"We're doing really well and we still believe we can get in the play-offs. It would be great to be involved in that, but I won't be.

"I was talking to the lads the other day and there's a chance of playing at Wembley at the end of the season.

"Everyone is working hard at pushing for that but I won't be involved in that and that's the reason I'm down in the dumps."

Little has cut a depressed figure after defeats in the Cobblers' past two games – the only ones they have sustained with the outstanding
youngster on the pitch.

But now the former England youth international is setting his sights on getting back in the first-team frame at Wolves, and helping out with a play-off push at the next level.

"It'll be great to get back to Wolves and see if I can get back in the side there," said Little.

"I've not really spoken to Mick McCarthy – he told me when I joined that he would recall me if he needed to.

"Hopefully he will have been getting some good reports about how I've been playing here.

"I go back after the Luton game and I'll be looking to prove to the gaffer at Wolves what I'm capable of."