Kevin Nolan sets out selection policy to cope with 'extreme' festive schedule

Cobblers host AFC Wimbledon tomorrow evening (Friday), and then go to Burton Albion and Huddersfield Town after Christmas, before returning to Sixfields to face Stockport County on New Year’s Day. ​

Nolan made five changes for last weekend’s derby defeat at Peterborough United, and there’s likely to be more rotation over the coming weeks, especially given the fact that only one player in the squad – Jack Vale – is not currently training.

"That's going to be our approach because we'll have people with niggles here and there so players will drop in and out,” said Nolan. “It's not about the 11 anymore, it's about the 18 because people are going to be disappointed not to make the squad.

"There's a big onus on that 11 to earn their place and to carry the shirt and to keep hold of it, and the lads just behind have to push them and wait for their opportunities. They will be given chances over the next few weeks and they have to grasp it when it comes."

Christmas has always been a busy time of year for football – but Nolan believes there are too many games.

"It's too congested from my point of view,” he added. “That's why we had to build the squad the way we did because we go away to Burton on Boxing Day and then three days later we have to go to Huddersfield, which seems a bit extreme.

"It’s been part of the calendar since I can remember, in fact it was probably worse back in the 80s, but if you want the quality to be right and for the product to be the best it can be, you have to give players time to recover and recuperate so they can go again.

"We have to turn them over so quickly and it's a real problem and you see it all throughout the game, even teams in the Premier League pick up a lot of injuries.

"We just have to plan and be ready and give the lads the best opportunity to go out there and produce their best stuff over the next couple of weeks. It's hectic but we'll enjoy it and hopefully we'll pick up points.”