Cobblers boss Hasselbaink delighted to land Mathis as he targets more new signings

Mathis has joined Town on loan until the end of the season, and he will provide competition and cover for striker Chris Long.

The 20-year-old Frenchman joined Everton last summer from Ligue 1 side Metz, for whom he made two substitute appearances last seasonm and he signed a two-year deal at Goodison Park.

Mathis has been a member of Everton’s Under-23 squad, where he was a team-mate of former Cobblers academy player Fraser Hornby.

He has already had a couple of spells training with the Town squad at Moulton College, and he has obviously impressed Hasselbaink, who said: “We are pleased to bring Boris in on loan.

“He has trained with us for a few days and so he already feels at home.

“Boris is a striker with pace and a lot of technical ability, he is highly rated by Everton and we are pleased to welcome him in to the squad.”

Mathis joins Richard O’Donnell, Shay Facey, Jordan Turnbull, Jack Bridge, Joe Bunney, Hildeberto Pereira and Gboly Ariyibi as new faces in the Cobblers squad, and Hasselbaink says he is confident there will be more before the window shuts at 11pm on Wednesday.

“We think we have had a very positive transfer window so far and January’s results have been very encouraging,” said Hasselbaink, who saw his side stretch their unbeaten run to four games with Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Blackburn Rovers.

“We continue to talk to some targets to improve the squad further which we hope to get over the line before the deadline, so everyone is continuing to work hard.”