Goode: Cobblers will be ready to 'finish off the job' if and when season resumes

Cobblers were seventh when the season was suspended.

Skipper Charlie Goode says the Cobblers will be primed for action and ready to 'finish off the job' if and when they get the call to start playing again.

It's now nearly two months since any football was played in England - Cobblers lost 2-1 at home to Mansfield on March 7 - but players have been keeping themselves fit at home in anticipation of a restart.

Whilst the Netherlands and France have both called off their respective leagues, the EFL and Premier League remain hopeful of finishing the current season during the summer months, providing the government gives them the green light.

Football could potentially return as early as June and be played into July, however an official restart date has yet to announced and it is that uncertainty which is proving a challenge.

"The toughest part is not knowing when we might be back," admitted Goode. "Normally, when you break up in the summer, you have a date and you know when you'll be back in.

"You can start easing yourself back in and get up to speed again but at the minute we've just got to keep ourselves in top condition because we just never know when we'll be back.

"I'm sure we'll be able to have a mini pre-season for a couple of weeks when we do start up again but we've got to be prepared.

"The EFL are holding regular meetings at the moment but it's the same answers so we've just got to be patient, stay fit and follow the instructions that we're getting.

"The staff have been great with us. They've been in contact most days and I spoke to the gaffer a few days ago too and he's keeping on top of things and making sure we're doing the right things."

Goode also believes completing the current season must take priority over starting the next one and he says his team-mates are eager to finish off the hard work that has got them seventh in League Two with nine games left.

"First and foremost, it's got to be safe and it's got to be right for us to return," he added. "But hopefully we can get back to playing football again very soon.

"As players we want to finish the season because we've put ourselves in a strong position and we really feel like we have a good chance of achieving our end target.

"We've got a very close group of players and staff this season and we all get along really well so we've built some real close bonds and close friendships.

"We've stayed in contact most days and we're all really looking forward to getting back together and trying to finish off the job that we started. "It's just a tough situation but as players we'll be ready to play when needed."