Nolan issues caution over Jake Evans amid calls for Leicester loanee to play more minutes

The 17-year-old joined Cobblers on loan from Leicester City last month and made his full debut in the EFL Trophy win at Wimbledon, but he's yet to start in the league, making five substitute appearances. The earliest he’s come on in those five games is the 72nd minute.

Evans looked bright in flashes late on against Port Vale, prompting further calls from fans for him to play more, but Nolan does not believe it would be fair on such a young player to be thrown in given the current circumstances.

"Jake’s a lad who we’ve brought in to help with his development,” said Nolan. “You have to be very careful with young lads in terms of when you put them in. You saw the other night where he had a couple of moments which were fantastic and then he had a couple of moments that weren’t too clever.

"He’s an unbelievable kid and I'm really looking forward to seeing where his talent can take him, but we have to help him. Is now the right time? Probably not. Back in December, when we were in the top half, you could unleash him and give him more freedom.

"That’s the reality of it but he’s certainly a talent and he’s someone who can help us get to where we want to be between now and the end of the season. I’m looking forward to helping him on his way to becoming a well-known footballer in the higher echelons of the league.

"There’s lots of noise around him at the moment but we have to help him with that. He’s a good kid and a bright kid and he understands where he’s at.”

The same applies to deadline day signings Kyle McAdam and Ben Hammond, neither of whom have made a league appearance yet. Hammond hasn’t even featured in a matchday squad.

"They came in to train with us between now and the end of the season to give us that opportunity to have a real good look at them day in, day out,” Nolan explained. “Both have been great.

"Kyle did really well in the Wimbledon game and he got into the 18 on Saturday but then we decided to bring Crackers (Michael Jacobs) back in to give us something different on Tuesday.

"They just have to keep working hard because they are two players for the future. You look at Jack Perkins and Joe Wormleighton at the start of the season, they had to wait for their opportunities and you have to do that with young lads. Some you can let off the leash but others you have to build them into it and that’s what we’re doing and we’re pleased to have them all with us.”