Curle: It would have been 'disrespectful' not to name academy players on the bench

Keith Curle says he named five academy players on the bench at Shrewsbury Town on Saturday because he felt it would have been 'disrespectful' to do otherwise.

The Cobblers were missing 10 players for the trip to New Meadow due to injury and illness but still came away 2-1 winners thanks to goals from Mark Marshall and Sam Hoskins.

Managers will sometimes not fill the full quota of seven substitutes when stretched for players, but Curle opted to call up players from the youth team.

Ethan Johnston and Morgan Roberts are now well-known to Cobblers fans after signing pro deals earlier this year, as is 18-year-old striker Caleb Chukwuemeka following his rapid rise in recent times, but there were still two spots to fill.

So Curle raided the youth team by naming 17-year-olds Max Dyche - son of Sean - and Josh Flanagan on the bench, taking it to five academy players in total.

"It's a reflection of the relationship I've got with Jon Brady (U18s manager)," said Curle. "It's disappointing that I don't see much of the youth team as we don't train together so I'm very reliant on the information I get from Jon.

"That's down to the footballing relationship we've got. Even though I'm not there physically seeing the players, I know exactly what they're doing and I'm up to date in terms of where they are on their progression.

"A lot of coaches might have only put five players on the bench and left two spots unavailable but I think that's disrespectful to the players that are at the club."

Chukwuemeka replaced Benny Ashley-Seal, who joined the ever-growing injury list, late in the first-half at New Meadow, and although neither Flanagan nor Dyche were called upon. it was still an invaluable experience for the duo.

Curle added: "When there's an opportunity, and when Jon thinks they've earned that opportunity to step up, we give them that and it's a great experience to come with us and see how we prepare and to see what our mindset is and what our focus is.

"That thirst and hunger of being around the first-team has got to be a driving force for themselves for when they go back into the youth team - raise standards and put demands on other players because as and when you get an opportunity, you've got to be prepared to take it."

Sean Dyche was spotted in the ground at Shrewsbury but left shortly before full-time.