Curle not worried by potential fatigue as 'very fit' Cobblers face hectic month

Cobblers are currently in a run of nine games in 28 days and have five midweek matches in the space of six weeks, including their FA Cup replay against Derby County which is currently scheduled for next Tuesday.

And should Town successfully navigate their way through that tie at Pride Park, that will add yet another game - a fifth-round clash with Manchester United no less - to their already packed calendar.

But Curle was dismissive of any worries over his side's fitness and says the three new signings - Mark Marshall, Callum Morton and James Olayinka - will help freshen things up.

"No, I'm not concerned," he said. "Fatigue is a mental approach but mentally we are strong and physicality we are very fit.

"Games last 95, 96 minutes and we know we can compete and we know how we want to compete and what's needed.

"We've also made a few additions to the squad now and that will give us an extra dynamic and an extra freshness within the group.

"Sometimes there's nothing better than to bring in a few players because you find players up their game because you're creating a very demanding environment where players want to play.

"You bring in competition and when new people come into the building, they don't want those players to take their place, not only in the team but in the squad and that raises the standard of the competition.

"My job then is to manage that situation because we will get players now who are disappointed and angry.

"I set different players different challenges and it's not just how they perform, it's sometimes how they conduct themselves in the environment because we are a team."