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Former Cobblers star is in the right place to discover lost form.

Highlights

Callum Morton has returned to Northampton Town for a second loan spell hoping to pick up where he left off.

Despite scoring an incredible eight goals in 12 games, including three in the play-offs, with the Cobblers at the back-end of the 2019/20 campaign, Morton has been unable to find the same goalscoring form since.

Loan spells at Lincoln City, Fleetwood Town and Peterborough United followed the 24-year-old's time at Town but multiple factors, including time out injured, halted the young forward's progression.

In the summer of 2022, Morton left parent-club West Brom to re-join Fleetwood before signing for Salford City only six months later.

Another loan, this time to Forest Green, followed before a return to Salford, where he would make yet another loan switch to Jon Brady's side. Morton has only managed 16 goals in 118 league appearances since his stint at Cobblers.

Morton feels at home again already with Northampton

"I'm delighted to be back," the striker told Northampton Chronicle and Echo. "As everyone knows I had a really good time last time I was here and I'm looking forward to getting going again.

"As soon as I heard (of interest) I was just eager to get the deal done and hopefully return to somewhere where I can enjoy my football again. It couldn't have gone any better last time.

"Since then, I've maybe not found the right environment or manager to get the best out of myself. "I've had good spells, but I know the manager here will believe in me and the fans know what I can bring to the team."

How Cobblers previously extracted Morton's best form

Playing under Keith Curle, Morton made an instant impact at Town, winning the League Two Player of the Month award for February with five goals in three games, having joined late in January.

Despite the early curtailing of the League Two season, Morton carried his form into the play-offs, scoring twice in a play-off semi-final second leg against Cheltenham, where Northampton incredibly overturned a two-goal first leg deficit away from home.

Morton further captured Cobblers hearts by turning home a cross to give Town a 2-0 lead over Exeter City in the final at Wembley, which Curle's side would go on to win 4-0.

However, Morton's form in a claret shirt under Curle was no coincidence. Curle's long ball tactics suited Morton's pressing game as his side were extremely comfortable out of possession, allowing the forward to press relentlessly.

Morton's partnership with Vadaine Oliver, a tall physical striker, was crucial as Oliver's presence in the box would require extra attention from defenders, leaving Morton free to tap home scraps in the area on many occasions.

During Morton's most recent season, he was played in a majority of positions, but it remains evident that he is most effective down the middle, having not scored a goal away from the position.

Brady has already recruited two target strikers in the form of James Wilson and Tom Eaves, showing a clear intention of utilising Morton effectively.

Brady's record with developing strikers is strong one

Heading into his fourth full season as Northampton boss, Brady has built up a good record of developing and extracting the best out of young forwards and players in general.

This is indicative of Kion Etete, who joined on loan from Tottenham Hotspur in the summer of 2021. While the striker's scoring record wasn't fantastic, Brady put his faith in Etete, who eventually caught form, earning a loan move up the pyramid to Cheltenham Town before a permanent switch to Championship outfit Cardiff City.

Kieron Bowie, is another product of Brady's school of attackers, joining on loan from Fulham in the summer of 2022. Bowie played an integral role in Town's promotion to League One under Brady's stewardship, so much so he earned himself a loan back to the club last campaign, where he impressed yet again.

Morton's past record at the club proved the talent the young striker has and paired with Brady's strong development record, Northampton fans should be excited about the potential prospect of seeing Morton back to his prolific best.