Brady warns youth players not to expect any favours

Jon Brady says Cobblers' young players should not be expecting any favourable treatment after he took on the role of caretaker manager.

Brady has worked within Town's youth setup since 2017 and played a major part in the development of several academy players who are now with the first-team.

They include Shaun McWilliams and Caleb Chukwuemeka, both of whom have featured heavily this season, as well as Morgan Roberts, Scott Pollock, Dylan Berry and Ethan Johnston.

"There were big smiles on faces when I saw Morgan, Caleb, Ethan and Dylan," said Brady. "It was great to see them and they're like sons to me and as a coach, that's how you treat your players.

"But there's a whole family here and we have to make sure we're all together, we're all singing from the same hymn sheet and we're all fighting for the same cause."

Brady will not allow his obvious links with Town's youth players to impact team selection.

He added: "They will have to earn the right to get into the team through their performances in training or any opportunities they get on the pitch.

"It's not going to be a free hit for them just because I'm youth team manager. We have to put the best players on the pitch and have round pegs in round holes and play what we think is the best team to go and win games.

"It won't be a free hit for any of the youth lads. If anything, I'll treat them like my sons and I'll be tougher on them than their mums and dads!"