Cobblers be facing 'a late shout' over return of loan stars Wharton and Morton

Chairman Kelvin Thomas has confirmed talks are ongoing with the players, their representatives and their parent clubs West Bromwich Albion and Blackburn Rovers, but concedes whether or not they return to Town on loan could be 'a late shout'.

Both players will report for pre-season at their respective clubs in the next week or so, and what will happen next season with regards to loan moves will depend on whether or not both Slaven Bilic and Tony Mowbray see them as part of their first team plans.

Wharton, who is 23 in October, has already gone on record to say he is desperate to break into the first team picture in the coming season, while 20-year-old Morton will have definitely caught the Baggies' coaching staff's attention with his outstanding play-off displays for the Cobblers.

So it could be that the Cobblers have to be very patient, as they were last season, with Wharton not actually agreeing to sign on at the PTS Academy Stadium until the week before the campaign started.

"We have a couple of boys from last season that we would like to retain in Callum and Scott, and there has been a lot of conversation all around about that," Thomas told ntfc.co.uk

"But as with any loan player, and as it was with Scotty last season which was late in the day, I think Scotty will want to see how he fits into Blackburn's plans in the Championship, which is understandable.

"So that might be a late shout, and it might not even happen, and Callum is the same.

"He will want to find out if he is part of Slaven Bilic's plans, if he goes into the first team squad or the Under-23 squad in pre-season, and he will look around.

"Obviously, both players have done very well, and Callum especially will have a lot of interest for what he did playing for us.

"But I think Callum has stated to us, and his representatives have stated to us, that he appreciates what happened here and he knows it is a good place for him to come and score goals."

And Thomas also made it clear that they are not going to be gambling everything on Wharton and Morton returning, and that plans are in place if they don't come back.

"Those conversations are happening, but our season is not going to be based on Scott or Callum," said the chairman.

"We will hopefully be better for having those two in the building, but we have to make sure that we get the right players in anyway."

The new league one season will start on September 12.