AIDY BOOTHROYD has confirmed trialist goalkeeper Connor Roberts will get some more game time for Cobblers against Derby County on Tuesday night.
Roberts, in the absence of Neal Kitson, who had headed back to his native America, got a full 90 minutes against Chelsea Under 21s on Saturday as Town fell to a 2-0 defeat.
Boothroyd did feel the ex-Everton stopper was at fault for the first goal as he failed to hold a Billy Clifford shot, allowing Alex Kiwomya to capitalise.
But the Town boss was sufficiently pleased with the rest of Roberts’ showing to ensure the 19-year-old will remain in the frame for the midweek clash with the Rams.
“I thought he did well,” said Boothroyd. “I thought he could have held the goal – the first one – but apart from that I thought he did very, very well so we’ll look at him again.
“He’ll be involved against Derby and we’ll have another good look at him.”
Second-half substitute Kiwomya netted twice to down the Cobblers, who missed a number of chances as Chelsea’s kids walked away with a fine win.
And Boothroyd was left ruing the ruthless nature of the well-schooled opposition, who he felt were a cut above in front of goal.
“He (Roberts) didn’t have too many shots to save, they were just so clinical and that’s what you get at that level,” said Boothroyd.
“They exploit any weakness and they’ve got a thrust about them where they can go from one end of the pitch to the other because they’re all international players, young international players, who could quite easily play in Championship teams.
“We take these games to have a look at them and we take these games to have a look at us so from that point of view it was a positive game for us.”