Wormleighton 'wants as much game-time as possible' after 'really hard' first season at Sixfields

Signed by Cobblers after a short trial last summer, the 22-year-old impressed supporters in the early stages of the season, only for injury to strike. He missed two months with a groin problem at the end of 2025 and then had his campaign cut short by a torn knee ligament in February.

However, the young full-back has featured in all five pre-season friendlies so far, including at Cambridge United on Tuesday where he lasted the full 90 minutes.

“I’m really pleased,” he said afterwards. “That’s my first 90 minutes in six or seven months and I’m delighted to get through it. I’m feeling really good at the moment, the injury I had at the end of last season hasn’t impacted by once so far, and hopefully I can take this feeling into the season.”

On the issue that kept him sidelined for four months, Wormleighton explained: “I tore a ligament in my knee. Unbeknown to me I trained with it for a little bit, which probably made it worse, and it turned out to be quite a big injury.

“But thankfully I’m through it now and I’ve not had any trouble with it in pre-season so far – hopefully I can keep that going as we go into the season because I just want as much game-time as possible.

“I’ve been keeping myself fit and my main target is to stay fit and play games because last season was quite stop-start. I had two big injuries and that’s not something I’m used to, I’ve not had many in my career, and I found that really hard to deal with, especially given the tough season we had.

"But I’m happy to be back out there now and I’m doing everything I can for the team – it feels like a fresh start for myself and for the team. I couldn’t wait to come in for the first day of pre-season because as soon as you start a new season, it’s a clean slate, especially when you have a new manager.

“Everyone’s moved on from last season and we’re looking to take as much positivity from pre-season into the season as we can.”

Wormleighton, like many of his team-mates, also appears to be flourishing under the fresh energy of new manager Chris Hogg.

“Every manager brings different ideas and so far all the lads have taken to the gaffer really well,” he added. "We enjoy the style of football and I think the aggressiveness out of possession suits a lot of us as players.

“It’s also good to have as much competition as possible, that’s part of football, and a lot of the lads here are quite versatile and I like to think I am as well. Competition for places is what builds a good team and we’re all fighting for the shirt. That makes training competitive and we’re pushing each other.”

Cobblers play their final friendly at Solihull Moors on Saturday (1pm kick-off) before their 2026/27 campaign kicks off at Leicester City in the Carabao Cup next weekend.

“I can’t wait to start the season,” admitted Wormleighton. “We have one more friendly on Saturday and then we’re at Leicester on Saturday, that’s one I’m looking forward to back at my old club.

“I still have a few friends there but that’ll all be put aside on the day – we are going there to win and I think we are more than capable of doing that.”