Ethan Johnston profile: who is the latest young talent to come off Cobblers' production line?

Ethan Johnston signed his first pro deal earlier this year

'He is lethal.'

This was how Northampton Town’s latest teenage prodigy, Ethan Johnston, was described a year ago by his coach, as the starlet chalked up 37 goals in just 22 games for the club’s education programme side.

Fast forward 12 months and the 17-year-old’s superb goalscoring form has landed him a first ever pro contract, with the hope the best is yet to come.

Northampton Town’s Football and Education team were runaway winners of their league last season, beating Rochdale by nine points. When you look at the stats, one sticks out.

The young Cobblers scored a staggering 100 goals in just 20 games, a seismic 40 more than rivals and next best Crystal Palace Foundation.

Johnston's personal tally was a significant contributor to that goal count and was one of the reasons he started turning heads at the club.

But it wasn’t just his predator instincts in front of goal that caught the eye of spectators. His work-rate was admirable and the influence his presence had on the rest of the team was also noticeable.

I went to Moulton FC when Northampton faced Rochdale in the National Youth Football League last year, which ended in a 7-2 victory. Johnston scored four.

There was an array of talent on show but, as the game unfolded, it became clear that Johnston was the standout performer. He was integral to every attack, wouldn’t give the defenders a moment to breathe and was barking instructions to his fellow team-mates.

After the match I caught up with manager Shane Goddard who was full of praise for the youngster: "He has the ability to excite crowds and put players on the back foot."

When asked what he sees for the youngster in the future, Goddard added: “Hopefully the ideal scenario would be that he’s not on the programme next year because he does well enough to move to the youth team."

Johnston also had high hopes of pushing for the youth team and expressed a huge desire to do so. "That’s why I’m here," he said. "That’s the aim and I’ve got to keep working hard and doing what I’m doing."

He signed for the Northampton Youth team earlier in the season and scored 18 times before Keith Curle offered him a first-team contract in February, tying him to Northampton until the end of the 2020/21 season.

Although yet to make a first team appearance, Johnston has already featured on the bench, most notably against Derby County in the Emirates FA Cup.

Johnston becomes the second player to sign professional forms with Northampton after graduating from the Football and Education Programme.

Scott Pollock laid the path for him and has gone on to be a regular in the matchday squad this season, making 18 appearances in all.

Johnston is now desperate to follow suit.