As he joins the ranks of a full time professional, Matt Warburton knows to expect his toughest pre-season yet when the players return for training in late June.
“It will be the toughest pre-season I’ve had but I want to hit the ground running. I’m not fearful of it but I know I need to come back in the best shape possible,” he said.
“I don’t want people to be able to tell that I’ve come from being semi professional so I’ll be doing everything I possibly can to be at the same fitness level as the rest of the players and hopefully my ability can come through as well."
Looking beyond pre-season, Warburton is aiming to earn himself a place in Keith Curle's side at the start of next season.
“I know it’s going to be incredibly difficult but I want to start well in pre-season and try and get myself into the starting line-up," he said.
"There are some fantastic pros here already but I’ve been given this chance and I want to take it.
“By trade I’m a number 10 and I’d like to think I’ve got a creative spark in me. I finished the season with 27 goals at Stockport and hopefully I can take that forward for Northampton.
“Keith Curle was incredibly welcoming to me and he is incredibly ambitious. He knows the game really well and he knows what he’s after and i think if you buy into what he wants then you will succeed.
“That’s what I took away from my meetings with him and he impressed me every time I met him.”