Dyche earns glowing praise from 'impressed' Curle after teenager makes his Cobblers debut

Seventeen-year-old Max Dyche earned glowing praise from an 'impressed' Keith Curle after making his Cobblers debut at Crewe Alexandra on Saturday.

The young centre-back has made the bench a couple of times this season but got his first taste of professional action at Gresty Road when he replaced Christopher Missilou with 20 minutes to go.

Dyche, son of Burnley manager and ex-Northampton defender Sean, was thrown into the deep end as Town were pinned back by Crewe after Joe Martin's red card, but he stood his ground and thrived under the pressure, making several crucial defensive interventions.

It wasn't enough to hold out for a point as Ryan Wintle struck the winner deep into stoppage-time, but Dyche's performance on debut was a big positive on an otherwise miserable afternoon for the Cobblers.

"He's joined the squad on merit," said Curle. "I've had some conversations with Jon (Brady) and Max and Liam Cross are the next ones to step up and train with us. They're ready for the next opportunity and the next challenge in their career paths.

"I've got to say, Max has impressed me in the three training sessions I've had with him. You find a lot of young players, when they come up, they're not so much in awe of being with the first-team but they don't want to make a mistake and they become a little bit insular.

"They want to fit in and they're reluctant to express themselves but the first thing I noticed with Max is that he's got a voice and he's got a personality and his body shape is changing from last season.

"I went to watch him not long after I came into the club. I think he was a first-year scholar then and he looked as if he needed to grow and he has done. I know he's done a lot of work on his physicality and I think he's been a shining example for the youth team.

"From the conversations I've had with Jon, Max is head and shoulders above and that's in different aspects of the game, not just because he's a bigger lad but he's motivating the other players around him and he's been a focal point of the youth team.

"I like that and I like young players taking responsibility because when they step up to the first-team, you hear them and it shows that it's part of their DNA and it's in their character.

"His father was obviously a no-nonsense centre-back that accepted challenges however they came and you need that armoury which you gain by being out on the pitch and in and around good professionals that want to help you.

"That's another thing the changing room can take credit for because when a young player has stepped up they have been welcomed into the fold and encouraged to express themselves and that's very important, both for their development and the development of the football club.

"There's nothing to be scared of. We're all lads out playing football and that's the type of environment we want to create for the youngsters because that's how you develop."

Dyche could well make his full debut at Oxford United on Tuesday given Town's long list of injuries and suspensions.

"It's a challenge and an opportunity for someone else to come in and get some game-time and prove why they're here," Curle added. "We won't go there on the back foot and we will accept the challenge."