'˜Big and powerful' Luckassen gives Cobblers boss Hasselbaink '˜something different'

The 24-year-old free agent has signed a short-term contract until the end of the season, having previously played for Ross County in the Scottish Premiership, Slovan Liberec in the Czech Republic and St Polten in Austria.

He has been without a club since leaving St Polten last summer, but has been training with the Cobblers for the past few weeks and has impressed Hasselbaink enough to earn a deal.

The Town boss is keen to strengthen his attacking options, with due to injury and illness in recent weeks have been shown up to be on the light side.

Hasselbaink made two striker signings in the January transfer window in Kevin van Veen and Boris Mathis, but both have struggled to make an impact.

Van Veen has been out since injuring his knee on his full debut at AFC Wimbledon on February 10, while Everton loan man Mathis has made just one substitute appearance, with an attack of the flu also setting him back.

Hasselbaink has had to rely on Chris Long to lead the line, and he is delighted to have landed Luckassen to give him something else.

“Kevin has been training with us for a couple of weeks and has settled in well,” said Hasselbaink.

“I felt that with the injury to Kevin van Veen and when Boris Mathis was ill, we were a little short of options up front and so Kevin has come in to help with that.

“He is an option for us, he is big and powerful and he will offer us something different.”

Van Veen’s knee injury is on the mend, but he is still a doubt for this weekend’s Sky Bet League One trip to Bristol Rovers.

Luckassen, who has three brothers who also play professional football, will be available for selection for that trip, subject to international clearance.