Curle says he does not have a 'best XI' and he's still 'putting together' his Cobblers puzzle

Keith Curle says the Cobblers do not yet have a 'best XI' and that he could make further changes over the next couple of weeks as he searches for the most effective systems and formations that suit his new set of players.

A spate of early-season injures coupled with the unusually late closing of the summer transfer window means Curle is not as familiar with his squad as he might typically have been at this stage of a normal season.

Curle has made four changes for the last two fixtures and could be tempted to rotate again when Charlton Athletic visit tomorrow afternoon, despite victory over Swindon last time out.

"We're always developing in the changing room," said the Town boss. "We've brought in the players for their characteristics and ability and we believe they can improve us so we've collected the pieces of the jigsaw.

"Sometimes, you put one piece in a certain place with two other pieces either side, and you find out it fits somewhere else. We're still putting the puzzle together and we're not the finished article yet because we don't have a best XI.

"But we have got a very competitive squad of 23 players and for different formations, for different circumstances and for different tactical reasons, we can be competitive in this division.

"That hasn't changed and it won't change whatever the personnel are. The pleasing thing is that we have a team mentality within a squad of players.

"That means that players might not be selected for a Tuesday night game but they don't get off the bus because they know that, on Saturday, they might not only be in the squad, they might be starting.

"It's keeping that belief. You name the team and you name the squad and you have disappointment, anger, frustration but the overriding factor is that you're part of a squad and part of a team.

"We have a smaller squad but we're rotating our players so they're all getting game-time, they're all up to speed and they all know what the requirements are."

Jack Sowerby is one player who has settled impressively quickly. His debut was delayed by injury but he's wasted no time in finding a settled role in Curle's team. With Danny Rose also looking the part up front, it is an example of the unity and spirit Curle likes his teams to have.

"Jack is a good player," added Curle. "He faded a little bit in the second-half on Tuesday but that's just because he hasn't played a lot of games and he also had the game at Plymouth on Saturday with the journey back.

"He then had the journey back up north and came back down again but he's integrated very well into the team and into the group. We've brought a new identity to the club but the personalities are starting to come through.

"Jack has moved down into the clubhouse and I think that's important because it shows the buy-in from players. We've got the new clubhouse where Jack, Benny (Ashley-Seal) and Danny Rose have moved into.

"Nicky Adams has come down with Fraser (Horsfall) and Ricky Korboa and that is because they're buying into their profession and they're doing things right.

"This is where they work and they need to be around here and that cuts down the travelling time and it also gives them time to prepare. It also gives them a chance to enjoy Northampton!"