McCourt looking forward to working again with Cobblers boss Page

The 20-year-old midfielder signed a two-year deal at Sixfields last week, and when he reports back for pre-season at the end of this week he will be the only Cobblers player to have worked under Page before.

The Liverpudlian spent a month on loan from Leicester City at Port Vale when Page was manager there last season, and played three games for the Valiants.

He also trained day in, day out and was impressed with the management style of Page, who took over at the Cobblers following Chris Wilder’s departure just days after Northampton had completed their record-breaking Sky Bet League Two title-winning season.

“Rob is a great manager, and he knows how to get the players fired up in different ways,” said McCourt.

“He knows how to react with different players and he is my type of manager. He knows how to get me playing.”

So what sort of style of play can the Cobblers supporters expect their team to play under Page?

“When I was at Port Vale we liked to play football at the right times,” he said.

“There was quite a lot of attacking play and that’s what I like.

“He wanted me to get on the ball and play while I was there, and I am looking forward to playing under him again.”

McCourt also worked with new Town assistant manager Paul Wilkinson in his short stint at Barnsley, and he is looking forward to getting down to work when training starts in earnest on Friday.

And he believes the Cobblers have the capability of having a good season as they step up to league one.

“You can tell the ambition the club has got with what they are doing,” said McCourt, who spent last four months of the season at Barnsley, making two appearances.

“With me knowing the gaffer and Wilko it was an easy decision for me to sign here.

“I have come along massively, playing in league one and getting first team football, and that has brought me on a lot as a player.

“League one is a good division, and there are some good teams in there.

“I feel that with the squad we have here, we can compete.

“Only time will tell of course, but I think we have a good squad and we will have to see how high we can get in the league.”