Northampton Town forward Callum Morton will not play again this season after suffering a serious knee injury in their 4-1 defeat at Wrexham.

The 24-year-old is in his second spell at Sixfields, having returned to the Cobblers on a season-long loan from Salford City.

He first played for them in the second half of the 2019-20 season, when he scored five goals in nine league games after joining them from West Brom.

“I heard a big crack and he was in tears, bless him,” boss Jon Brady told BBC Radio Northampton following the game.

“It’s infuriating at the moment because you’re trying to take steps forward and players are breaking down all the time.”

Brady says they will have to fight to stay above the relegation places this season because of the quality of teams in League One.

They have been joined in the third tier by the likes of Birmingham City, who were relegated from the Championship last term, and promoted Wrexham.

“Everyone can see how strong this league is this year and the quality of sides is a different level,” said Brady.

“Our job – not to be negative about it – is to stay above that red line.

“The players are giving it everything we’ve got but the level is up. We’ve just got to make sure we keep grinding away, don’t lose faith, keep working hard and we’ll get it right.”

Northampton won automatic promotion in 2023, having missed out in the play-offs 12 months earlier, and finished 14th in League One last term with 60 points.

Morton’s injury is the latest in a series that have dogged them since the start of the current campaign.

The defeat by Wrexham was Northampton’s third in a row – with 10 goals conceded – following the encouragement of a 3-1 win at Huddersfield Town on 21 September.

“Losing so many duels all over the pitch, I would say we were too soft to play against, way too soft,” Brady added.

“In my whole time here, I don’t feel we’ve been that easy to roll over… We’re creating chances but we’re too soft at the moment. It’s too easy to score against us. I’ve got to get that right.”

Following Tuesday’s EFL Trophy game at Notts County (19:00 BST), Northampton then have an 11-day break before returning to league action at home to Leyton Orient.