Cobblers’ summer signings impress but Wilder wants more

Four of the Town’s new recruits – David Buchanan, Nicky Adams, Alfie Potter and Adam Smith – made their first appearance at Sixfields in Saturday’s 1-0 pre-season defeat to Championship side Derby County, and all have impressed Wilder since joining the club.

He said: “I’m already impressed by the new players and I know what they can produce – that’s why we brought them to the football club.

“We played a certain way after Christmas last year because we wanted to change the way we played and we did that and the new lads have fitted into that system really well.

“We identified players that can make us better and they have definitely done that.

“But everybody played a part on Saturday and I’m delighted with all of them in the changing room.”

Trialists Sam Hoskins, Paul Corry and Rod McDonald also featured in Saturday’s defeat as Wilder looks to bolster his squad ahead of their first game of the Sky Bet League Two season at Bristol Rovers on August 8.

Midfielder Corry has just joined the club on trial having recently been released by Sheffield Wednesday and came on as a 62nd minute substitute against Derby, but fellow trialist Gozie Ugwu missed the game through injury.

Commenting on the trialists, Wilder said: “We’re looking at them. The reason we have these players here is because they’re looking for clubs and we’re looking for players and it’s got to fit.

“We’ve also got Ricky Holmes, Jason Taylor, Brendan Moloney and Evan Horwood that have not played on Saturday, so we’ve got other good players as well to come back in and we’re looking good.

“I’ve assembled a really good squad. It still needs bits and pieces adding to it and a few more numbers but the core, the way they go about their work and their attitude to everything is excellent and everyone appreciates that.

“We want to do things the right way and Saturday’s game didn’t have a feel of a pre-season game. It was a competitive workout played in a really good spirit.”