Wilder says the Cobblers have signed ‘a talent’ in goalkeeper Smith

Smith signed for Northampton on Friday, just two weeks after he was sacked by the Premier League Foxes for his part in an end-of-season tour scandal in Thailand.

The 22-year-old has admitted that he thought his career may have been over, but he has swiftly been given a second chance to get back on the right track at Sixfields.

Smith never made a first-team appearance for the Foxes, but was an unused substitute in several Premier League games last season, and Wilder says that the Cobblers have landed an exciting prospect.

“Adam is an athletic, young goalkeeper that is a talent,” said the Town boss.

“He wouldn’t have been at Leicester is he wasn’t highly rated, and we have a good connection with Leicester as they are a local club to us.

“We know a lot about the player, we know a lot about his ability, we speak to people at Leicester and he is definitely a talent.

“He has been involved in and around their first team at Premier League level, but he knows he needs to come out and get games now.

“He needs to play football and get into our first team, which is going to a battle, and that’s what I want. it to be, not just in the goalkeeper position but right the way through the team.”

Smith took part in his first training session with his new team-mates on Friday.

That session marked the end of the first week of work for the squad, and Wilder says he is very happy with the shape his players are in.

“We have been delighted with the state of the players, and the condition they have come back in,” said Wilder.

“They have looked after themselves extremely well, and we have been back in early and are moving forward.

“There is a lot more hard work to be undertaken, but the stuff that we have seen so far is pleasing.”