Curle: Morton's success is vindication for Town's scouting system

Simon Tracey worked at Carlisle as a goalkeeping coach before he became head of recruitment at the Cobblers last year.

Morton was hardly a name on everyone's lips prior to his move to the Cobblers at the end of January, signing on loan from West Brom for the rest of the season.

He had never played league football before, scoring five goals in 17 games in his only previous loan spell for Braintree Town last season, but he’s taken to League Two like a duck to water.

The 20-year-old scored five goals in nine appearances prior to the enforced break due to coronavirus, including a couple of braces at Walsall and Grimsby Town, and was nominated for the February Player of the Month award.

He’s not been the only success story of the January window either, with James Olayinka, signed on loan from Arsenal, producing a man of the match display on his debut before being struck down by injury.

Free transfer Mark Marshall and Luton Town loanee Lloyd Jones have so far only shown glimpses of their ability but both could yet play a key part during Northampton’s run-in when the season resumes.

Curle has been delighted by the work that continues to be done behind the scenes and says Morton’s success, as well as that of other signings, is validation for their work, led by head of recruitment Simon Tracey,

“As I’ve said before, we don’t just employ Simon when the January window is open,” said Curle.

“He’s employed by the football club full-time and him and his staff, and the scouts, are watching a lot of games.

“Sometimes, it’s not just about identifying talent because how we do it is we have a coding system that tells us where we are with certain players at that moment in time.

“Some might be above us so we wouldn’t be attract those but some of them are projects and we see their potential.”

Curle tried to sign Morton on the final day of last January’s transfer window but the move fell through at the last minute as Marvin Sordell joined instead.

“We monitor players and it’s an ongoing process because some might not be ready yet but they might be in six months,” Curle added.

“Callum was one of those because he was flagged up last year but then unfortunately we had a few hiccups when we tried to sign him and then he got injured.

“So it’s always ongoing and I’m very pleased with the recruitment process that’s in place at the club.

“There’s been a massive change in personnel and one of the big things we’ve brought in is good characters and we’ve got a good range.

“There are some very good assets in the building and some very good experience.”