Edmondson receives the full support of his manager amid difficult time on and off the pitch

Young striker Ryan Edmondson has received the full support of his manager amid a difficult time on and off the pitch.

Cobblers boss Jon Brady revealed in his post-match interview on Saturday that the Leeds United loanee has been going through a 'very tough time personally' due to a few issues away from football.

Edmondson also had a forgettable afternoon on the pitch against Crewe Alexandra at the weekend when, having just come off the bench, he missed a golden chance to put Town 1-0 ahead only 60 seconds before Owen Dale scored the decisive goal at the other end.

The 19-year-old started six games in a row before Saturday and impressed against both Plymouth and Portsmouth, but he was dropped to the bench for Crewe's visit with Sam Hoskins chosen to lead the line.

"A player with confidence would have put that in the net, that's a fact," said Brady. "The goalkeeper had nearly fallen over when he went backwards.

"We've got to do our best to try and get the best out of Ryan and pick him up. We work with him and that's what we do with all the players but I expect him to score that.

"He's such a great boy and he's a strong character but sometimes you go through stages in your career where you lack a little confidence and you have dips.

"He was brilliant for us against Plymouth and Portsmouth and that's a young player developing. It happens to them. We have got to understand the right moment to play him and put him in.

"You get a gut instinct as a manager when to do that."

Edmondson ended Saturday's game out on the wing after Mickel Miller and Mark Marshall were both substituted.

Brady added: "Mickel was feeling his hamstring and we've got to be very cautious with him and Marshy wasn't at the races so Sammy went back out on the right.

"Do we have natural balance with another winger on the other side? No, we haven't. I didn't want to keep going long but you can only tell them until you go blue in the face and because we were going so long, I thought at least we could get some height up there and win some headers and get the second balls.

"We had Ricky Korboa on the bench but again, he's right-footed. He likes to play on the left but I wanted a natural goalscorer on the pitch."