Curle gives more insight into why he signed Miller and Edmondson

Keith Curle has provided a little more insight into why he made the decision to make Mickel Miller and Ryan Edmondson his first signings of the January transfer window.

The two attacking players, who were both close to joining the Cobblers previously, have joined on loan for the rest of the season from Rotherham and Leeds

Miller was heavily linked with the Cobblers both last summer and the previous year and Curle has finally got his man, albeit only after losing out to Rotherham.

"Mickel is another player that has been on the radar of the recruitment department for a while," said the Town boss. "We tried to get him while he was up in Scotland and we were in good negotiations but he then had the opportunity to go to a Championship club.

"I haven't held that against him but I did remind him! I think the lad can play Championship football but from where he had been, I told him that, in my opinion, he should come to us and play games and his next progression after that would be in the Championship and he would play more games than he has done.

"That didn't happen and he took the option of going to Rotherham and I think there's a level of frustration because he sees himself as a Championship player who can hold his own in that division and he feels he's done well.

"But he hasn't had the game-time he thinks he should be getting. He's got Championship qualities and he's got a versatility about him that I like because you can play him in behind, you can play him up front or on the right or on the left.

"He's also got the ability to express himself in the right areas and he likes being creative and scoring goals and he's also got a fantastic work ethic. He's got the attitude as well. As long as he's on the pitch and he's playing, he wants to perform and it's that hunger that I like."

On Edmondson, Curle added: "Ryan an all-action player and he won't shy away from the physical side of the game, but he can score goals as well.

"He's got a work ethic and a desire to work. He wants to score goals so he gets himself into the action areas in the middle of the goal but he's also happy to get involved physically so he can be a focal point that we can play through.

"He knows he will be in direct competition with an opposition player but he wants to run in behind and work defenders and he's a fit player."