Boothroyd keen to add to Cobblers squad ahead of MK Dons clash

Town play host to the Dons at Sixfields (7.45pm ko) in a first-round tie and go into the game on the back of an opening-day defeat at York City.

Boothroyd’s men lacked something of a cutting edge in that match, with Roy O’Donovan’s shot that hit the bar their only real goalscoring opportunity of note.

Clive Platt remains sidelined with a calf injury and Alex Nicholls is not expected to be back until January, leaving O’Donovan and rookie strikers JJ Hooper and David Moyo as the club’s only forward options.

With resources depleted, he may look to intensify a search for a new striker that has been ongoing throughout the close season.

“We’ll possibly have some new players in,” he said. “I thought we might have someone in for the game at York but I’ve had a bit of a rethink on that.

“We might possibly be able to do something there and I think it’s important not to get too excited or too emotional on the first game.

“It has been a quick summer and I don’t want to be starting the season whinging and moaning. We need to recover and if that means bringing someone in then that’s what I’ll do.”

O’Donovan played as a solo striker in the loss at York with Ben Tozer operating as a holding player in a five-man midfield.

Boothroyd was largely pleased with the effectiveness of the system and says it is likely to be the formation the team uses on their travels for the majority of the season.

“I think this will be the system,” he said. “It clearly needs a bit of work but we need to be more potent away from home.

“Danny Emerton was exceptional on his debut, his pace causes all kinds of problems and it’s good to have an outlet like that.

“It’s early days and we wanted to get off to a good start. A point would have been a good start but it wasn’t to be.”