Nolan has a penalty plan after Eaves steps up ahead of Hoskins

Sam Hoskins has almost always been on spot-kick duties over the last few seasons, scoring 19 of 25 attempts across seven years, and he’s also stepped up from the spot four times this season, including twice in the same game.

However, Hoskins was not on the field when Cobblers won a penalty against Mansfield in November and there was a minor disagreement between Cameron McGeehan and Tom Eaves before the latter eventually stepped up and converted.

And then, in last Wednesday’s EFL Trophy victory over Walsall, Eaves again took responsibility from 12 yards after Kyle Edwards was fouled in the area despite the fact that Hoskins was on the pitch.

"We do have an order for penalties but it depends on different things,” said Nolan. “We talk about it and we’ve discussed it.

"We have a solution that I think is best for all of the squad and also what makes it tough for the opposition to know what’s going to happen and who’s coming on and who’s playing and who might be taking penalties.

"I feel we have three or four really good penalty takers in our squad and they all want to be the number one but I’ve taken a managerial decision to say how I want it done.

"James Alger, our goalkeeping coach, puts it to the players on matchdays but it will chop and change throughout the season.”