Nolan won't hesitate to make changes if Cobblers players don't maintain high standards
Kevin Nolan says he has trust in ‘all of his squad’ and therefore will not hesitate to make changes if players drop below the high standards they have set for themselves.
Whilst Nolan has already shown a willingness to stick with a winning team this season, he’s also made changes at times too and there is no shortage of options. Ross Fitzsimons, Michael Forbes and Joe Wormleighton came into the team due to injuries against Bolton last weekend and all three impressed, giving Nolan some selection dilemmas as previously first-choice players return to fitness.
"If players get the opportunity, they have to take it because otherwise they will have someone breathing down their necks come the next game and that’s great to see and that’s what you want as a manager,” said Nolan. "Because of all the work we have done, I trust the squad and I trust all of the players and they all know their roles and responsibilities within the team.”
His faith in the squad has also allowed Nolan to avoid taking unnecessary risks, adding: “There's no reason to put people at risk and potentially lose them for a long period when it could be just a few days or a couple of weeks. It's always day by day and I always feel it's about treating the man, not the scan.
"We had to make changes against Bolton due to injuries but that's why we worked so hard in pre-season and it's why we built the squad the way we did. When lads are picking up little niggles, instead of them forcing to play, we can rotate and bring other players in.”
And here doesn’t appear to be any sulking of moaning from players who aren’t playing, with Nolan continuing: "Jordan Willis was on the bench last weekend but he's missed out a couple of times this season but he came down against Wycombe and he wanted to be there for the lads, the same with Joe (Wormleighton).
"We gave them the chance to spend time with their families but they said no, they want to be around the group, and that's what you want. Jordan's been in and around the game a long time and it's fantastic to see his support and it shows what we're trying to build here.
"Joe got his opportunity against Bolton and Jordan stepped in as captain last Tuesday and both were fantastic. They believe in what we're doing and they know their roles and responsibilities. There's a confidence in them.”