Cobblers ace Johnson in race to be fit for Torquay opener
John Johnson could be given the full 90 minutes for the Cobblers in their pre-season friendly at Nuneaton Town tonight (7.45pm kick-off).
But Town boss Ian Sampson says the former Middlesbrough defender, who signed a two-year contract at Sixfields last week, is not guaranteed a place in the team when the season begins.
Sampson has been impressed with the way Paul Rodgers has slotted in at right-back during this summer's warm-up matches.
And with Johnson, in the words of his new manager, 'carrying a bit of weight', he faces plenty of hard work to secure his place in the starting 11 for the npower League Two opener at Torquay United a week on Saturday.
"Johnno looks like he needs 90 minutes," said Sampson, who gave his newest recruit the final half an hour of Saturday's draw with Watford.
"He looks a little bit unfit and so maybe we'll give him the full game tonight.
"I was over the moon to get him in – everyone knows what he's about and last year he was fantastic for the club.
"I hope he can reproduce what he did last year but he's got to get in the team first.
"Paul (Rodgers) has done well in the past couple of games and Johnno's carrying a bit of weight so he needs to shed that."
The signing of Johnson last week was enthusiastically greeted by the club's supporters, who were surprised the club had managed to bring him in permanently and not – as many had predicted – on another loan.
But Sampson said he did not have to sell Northampton to the 21-year-old, who learned enough about life at Sixfields last season to be more than welcome to a return.
"I think he wanted to come in permanently," he said. "He didn't need too much convincing because he knows what we're about.
"We're getting young players in who are going to develop with us and maybe move on in the future.
"For the time being, hopefully he'll do well for Northampton."
Tonight's game will see two former players return to Nuneaton's Triton Showers Community Arena, as Michael Jacobs and Kevin Thornton go back to a club with whom they spent time last season.
The Cobblers connections do not end there either – Nuneaton are currently managed by former Cobbler Kevin Wilkin, who famously scored the first last goal at the County Ground in 1994.
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Friday 10 February 2012
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