Club working on Toney replacement – Wilder

Toney’s departure leaves Town short up front with Marc Richards and new signing Sam Hoskins the only recognised strikers, and Wilder is keen to address the issue.

He said: “We are really sorry to see him go but we understand and accept it is hard to stand in the way of a player when a big Premier League club have an interest. We wish Ivan well.

“We need a replacement for him and that’s something we are working on.”

Wilder was unsurprised by the high profile interest in Toney with a number of other Premier League and Sky Bet Championship sides registering their interest in the young striker before he secured his move to the north east.

The Northampton boss added: “I’m not surprised as it is clear he has a huge amount of ability and to have played 60 games and scored 13 goals in senior football at 19-years-old, an age when not many players have even made their debut, shows just how much potential he has.

“He is already used to senior football and he has the outlook and physical presence way beyond many other 19-year-olds.

“This is a fantastic opportunity for Ivan to go and join one of the biggest clubs in the country.

“Newcastle United are a huge club and to have a club like that sign Ivan is of huge credit to Ivan and Northampton Town.”