Cobblers striker Mathis desperate to show what he can do at Sixfields

The 20-year-old has joined Town until the end of the season on loan, and he wants to get out on the pitch and show his Everton employers what he is all about.

The Toffees signed Mathis from French Ligue 1 side Metz on a two-year deal last summer, but he has found opportunities to get out on the pitch have been limited at Goodison Park.

He has yet to make a first team appearance, and has even seen his Under-23 game-time restricted, as he has struggled to dislodge the current strikers after an early season injury.

But Mathis says he is ‘fit and ready to play’, and he aims to make a big impression in a claret and white shirt if he’s given the chance by Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink.

“I want to come here, to prove and to show to Everton that I can play in their first team,” said Mathis, who made two susbtitute appearances for Metz last season.

“I haven’t played a lot of games in the under-23s because I was injured, and when I got back the strikers are in the team and settled.

“I have come here to show everybody what I can do, and to show Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink that him bringing me here is a good decision.”

Hasselbaink was a key reason behind Mathis signing for the Cobblers.

The Frenchman spent a couple of days training with the squad at Moulton earlier this month, and he admits the prospect of learning from the two-time Premier League Golden Boot winner was an opportunity not to be missed.

“I am happy to be here, and I am happy to have an ex-striker as my coach, that is good,” said Mathis.

“My father loves football and I always watched games with him, so I saw a few with Jimmy Floyd in so I know he was a good striker!”

And he added: “I came in for a few days’ training after my agent spoke to Northampton.

“They said they needed a striker, so that have called me, and I am here now.

“I spoke with the manager when I was here, and he was a striker, so when I speak with him I thought ‘I need to come here’.

“I knew I didn’t have to speak to other clubs about going on loan, because in my head I knew I wanted to come here to Northampton and I want to work the manager.

“I also watched some video of him on the internet, and I know he can teach me things.”

Mathis is available for selection for Saturday’s Sky Bet League One date with Rochdale at Sixfields.

The Lyon-born player says he would love to be involved, but he knows he may have to bide his time, especially as the Cobblers now have six loan players on their books, and only five can be named on a match day.

“I hope to be involved, but I only arrived today and Tuesday will be my first day training. so maybe they will want to wait one week more,” he said.

“I don’t decide, but on Tuesday I will start to show the level I am at to Jimmy.”

So, what type of player can the Cobblers fans expect to see once Mathis is given his chance to make his debut for the club?

“I am fast and I am a good finisher,” declared Mathis. “And I work on things after all training sessions.

“I need to work all the time, and to practise everything to be better, but I think I am not too bad as it stands.”