Cobblers striker O’Donovan happy with forward options

O’Donovan was up front alone in the opening-day defeat to York City but played alongside JJ Hooper against Milton Keynes Dons and Leicester loanee Jacob Blyth in the win over Newport County on Saturday.

Town manager Aidy Boothroyd has spoken about playing mainly a 4-5-1 formation away from home this season, and that tactic could be used at Southend United this weekend.

Boothroyd is likely to welcome back winger Chris Hackett for the trip to Roots Hall, and has plenty of options with Blyth having scored on his debut and Clive Platt nearing fitness.

O’Donovan is almost certain to start, having scored two in two, and is equally happy playing with a partner or ploughing a lone furrow.

“It depends on the game really,” he said. “In the York game I didn’t mind playing up front on my own - I felt like I was going to score and that the chances were going to drop to me.

“I’ve had a couple of different partners recently, they’ve tended to be younger than me and it’s been good to pass on the little bit of experience I have.”

Despite making a good goalscoring start to the campaign, O’Donovan is wary about setting any targets for the season.

Instead, he is content to focus on life at a club for whom he ‘loves’ playing and who he hopes to help drive to the next level.

“In the past few seasons I’ve come back in great shape and it’s got to Christmas and I haven’t played a lot of games,” he said. “So this year it’s great to be playing.

“I’m playing and the world is my lobster at the moment. I love playing for the club, it’s a great set-up and everything is positive.

“There was obviously some negativity after the play-off final but we did well to get there and it’s about taking it a step further this season.”