Defender McDonald signs Northampton Town deal

The former Hereford United and Telford player becomes Northampton’s seventh signing of the summer, and Wilder says the player has earned his deal.

The 23-year-old has been training with the Cobblers since they reported back to work in late June, and has played a part in all of the pre-season friendlies.

McDonald is the left-footed central defender that Wilder has been targeting, and the Cobblers boss said: “Rod has been outstanding and has done everything we have asked of him.

“He has come into the club and we have had a good look at him and we have had a look at him against different opposition.

“Against the opposition earlier in the pre-seasaon it was not so much about defending, more about possession and he was comfortable on the ball.

“Then going into the games against tougher opposition he has done extremely well.

“There is still a little bit of work to be done with him, but he is another one where we need to get the balance right between senior players and ones we want to bring though.

“We think Road has potential to definitely add to us, and to make us better and I am sure he will do that.”

And Wilder added: “We know about Rod’s history, he was at Stoke as a kid, and we were looking for a left-footed centre-half who we wanted to invite in for pre-season. He fitted the bill and he has done very well.

“He is not ready-made, but I am confident that if I did need to stick him in the first team he could go and play and develop and progress.

“he does need a bit of work, we need to get him up to speed as he has been in non-League football for a little while, but we definitely feel he is one that can go again, and we can play a part in that.”