Boothroyrd urges Widdowson to take the next attacking step

While Boothroyd was delighted that both his centre-forwards, Jacob Blyth and Roy O’Donovan, scored against Newport County last week, he will have been warmed by the presence of a midfielder’s name on the scoresheet.

Gary Deegan was the man on the mark on that occasion and the Cobblers boss recognises the importance of goals from all areas of the team to the success of his side.

It is a key feature of the close-season recruitment and the moves away from a tactical dependence on the unique skills of Adebayo Akinfenwa, who left the club to join Gillingham in the summer.

And Boothroyd says it even stretches as far as the full-backs, who he wants to see more of in attacking areas.

“We need everybody to chip in with goals this year,” he said. “I don’t expect the keeper to score but the odd goal from a full-back would be nice.

“A shot from Joe Widdowson would be nice, really, but that is the next step in his career as a full-back.

“We will look to him to do that this season, to get forward more and get more crosses and shots in and we know Kevin (Amankwaah) can do that.

“He has done it against my teams a lot during his career and the more everyone gets used to each other, the better we will get.”