Fringe players likely to be given opportunity before the end of the season

Whilst Calderwood has been happy to rotate during his five-game spell as interim manager, there are a number of players whose opportunities have been limited in the second half of the campaign.

Nottingham Forest loanee Ben Hammond has not made a league appearance since joining in January, while the likes of Michael Forbes, Tyrese Fornah, Kamarai Swyer, Conor McCarthy and Max Dyche have been in and out of the team over the past few months. Jack Perkins has also started the last two games on the bench, while Elliott List could return from injury against Luton next week.

"We have a semblance of a structure and that has given us moments in games but it’s not enough so we have to try a bit of variation and maybe give an opportunity to those players who haven't played,” admitted Calderwood.

"Whoever has played up to now, we're all culpable for being in this position and it's up to us to amend that, but he message won't change – you train, you're professional and you work hard.

"But when you don't do the principles at set-pieces and when it comes to defending around your box, like not going with your runners, they are the moments that decide it.”

Northampton’s relegation to League Two could become official this weekend, although it would take an unlikely set of results for it to be mathematically confirmed. Burton, Blackpool and Wigan would all have to win.

"We won't pay any attention to it,” Calderwood added. “It look fairly obvious. But between now and the end of the season we will work as if we're trying to get in the play-offs and it'll be an examination of our credibility as people, as coaches and as players and as members of this community. We have to try and find some sort of success.

"We have got a lot of preparation to do because that'll be a tough one at Luton but we have to finish the season with something. For me, that doesn't change. It might be different for others at the club but you go to work the next day, you have enthusiasm and endeavour to get better. I've been in worse positions and invariably there are good days ahead.”