The return of several key players from long-term injuries was a major boost in Wycombe’s 2-1 away win at Northampton Town in the League Cup.

Needing to respond following the underwhelming display against Bolton Wanderers on August 6, 10 changes were made to the starting 11 with Tyla Dickinson being the only one to keep his place at Sixfields.

Coming into the starting line-up were Nick Freeman, Tjay De Barr, Jack Young, and Jack Wakely to name a few, with those four names all recovering from long-term injuries.

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Each of those four names played tremendously in Northamptonshire, and assistant manager Richard Dobson was quick to point out their ‘mental strength’ as part of their recovery process.

Speaking to the Free Press at full-time, he said: “As someone who has suffered from injuries myself, I know how difficult it can be and it’s not just the physical toll of returning from injury, it’s the psychological toll too after being out for so long, as you want to be part of something but you can’t.

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“But the players have done their rehab right.

“Nick in particular to have a long-term injury like he has to come back in the shape that he has, I’m delighted for him.

“He is a lovely kid and it’s devastating when someone gets a serious injury.

“You don’t want that to happen to anyone but when it happens to someone like Nick Freeman, sometimes life doesn’t seem fair.

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“But he has been excellent in pre-season, he was excellent again tonight [August 9], and he’s got 90 minutes after his belt in a match that was at a good level.

“There was a great enthusiasm about him and the others too, as the squad played with a lot of energy because they knew that we weren’t good enough at the weekend.”