Wilder strengthens defence with loan signing of right-back Adam Yates

The 32-year-old is expected to go straight into the Town starting line-up for Tuesday night’s Capital One Cup second round clash at Newcastle United.

Wilder was forced to bring in Yates after Josh Lelan was red-carded in the dying minutes of Saturday’s 2-0 defeat to Plymouth Argyle.

The dismissal for two yellow cards meant the youngster was banned for the trip to the north east to face the Magpies, and with Brendan Moloney still sidelined through injury, there was no cover.

Yates has a wealth of experience, and has been Port Vale’s first-choice right-back for the majority of the past six seasons, making more than 200 appearances.

But this campaign he has found himself out of the reckoning at Vale Park, with manager Robert Page instead opting for Ben Purkiss.

Yates hasn’t even been named on the substitutes’ bench this season.

Wilder has worked with Yates before, the player making 12 loan appearances for Halifax when the current Cobblers boss was the manager there.

In all, Yates has made more than 300 senior appearances for Morecambe, Halifax and Burton, having began his career as a trainee at Crewe Alexandra.

Town boss Wilder said: “He is another strong character to add to the group we’ve already got, and I’m sure he will come and fit in straight away.

“I had Adam as a kid on loan from Crewe when I was at Halifax and Marc Richards, who played a lot of games with him at Port Vale, is full of praise for him.

“Adam is a consistent performer, he has played a lot of games in league one and league two, and he gives us stability.”