‘Collosus’: Brackley Town boss Andy Whing hails ‘absolutely fantastic’ Northampton Town recruit
It’s rare for Brackley Town boss Andy Whing to single out players for individual praise but he has been thrilled with how brilliantly centre-back Josh Tomlinson has settled in.
Signed during the Saints’ mass summer overhaul, Tomlinson can play at either centre-half or right-back and he’s been deployed in the former so far.
Brackley have had a bit of trouble at centre-back already, due to an injury for captain Kyle Morrison. Fellow new signing Will Armitage, meanwhile, was forced off in the season opener.
That game, a tidy 2-1 win away at AFC Telford United, witnessed a stunning display from Tomlinson as he scored Brackley’s second goal and defended excellently throughout.
There was extra pressure on Tomlinson late on as he was the only out-and-out centre-back available, with midfielder Charlie Cooper having to fill in alongside when Armitage went off.
Whing was delighted with how Tomlinson performed and he hopes he can continue that form.
“I thought JT was absolutely fantastic, especially considering we’ve had a bit of a disaster with our centre-halves in pre-season,” Whing said last Saturday.
“Mozza (Morrison) couldn’t play because he’s been out. Will wanted to carry on but his ankle ballooned up and Charlie had to go centre-half.
“Even Kieran (Coates, right-back) was playing with one leg at the end, so were holding on a bit! I think he was a colossus today. He was absolutely magnificent.”
What’s even more impressive about Tomlinson, who made nine senior appearances for previous club Northampton Town before joining Brackley, is the fact that he was flat out before the campaign had even begun.
Whing added: “I don’t usually single players out but bless him, because Will and Mozza have been out, he’s had to play basically every pre-season game.
“He’s had to contend with that, but because of that he’s got better and better. Even in the last 10 minutes, he was bringing it down and playing.
“Everything that came into the box, he had. He won every header. I’m really pleased for him.”
Tomlinson and his Brackley teammates will be keen to make it two wins out of two as they return to St James Park this Saturday, August 15, to take on Hebburn Town.