Northampton Town boss Kevin Nolan says Manchester United loanee Ethan Wheatley must stop being too hard on himself after the young striker netted the winner against Doncaster Rovers.
The 19-year-old responded to his manager’s challenge in style, scoring in the comeback victory that lifted the Cobblers further clear of League One’s bottom four.
What Happened and Why It Matters
Wheatley has started all but one league match since joining from Manchester United in the summer, but his early-season form has been mixed as he adapts to senior football. Nolan revealed that a frank one-to-one conversation on the eve of the Doncaster fixture helped reset the forward’s mindset.
“Ethan beats himself up a lot for some reason,” said Nolan. “I had him in on Friday and told him, if I see him beating himself up, I’ll end up doing it myself! I just told him to keep being positive and keep doing what he’s doing because he’s doing really well.”
🚀A first senior goal today for Ethan Wheatley!@ManUtd #ShoeArmy 👞 pic.twitter.com/HcioTLneEH
— Northampton Town (@ntfc) August 23, 2025
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That encouragement paid off immediately. Wheatley showed composure to guide home a decisive finish after the break, securing a vital 2-1 victory. It was the type of moment Nolan had demanded, and a product of a week spent reinforcing belief in the teenager’s strengths rather than dwelling on missed chances.
“Hopefully that’s a springboard for Ethan to go on and score a few more,” Nolan continued. “We want to see him attacking defenders more and it’s something we spoke about all week because we need to really utilise his key attributes in games.”
The Cobblers dominated territory for much of the first half at the Eco-Power Stadium but lacked the cutting edge to convert pressure into goals. Wheatley’s strike transformed the mood and reaffirmed his growing influence in a side that has relied heavily on collective effort over individual flair this season.
Reaction, Impact, and What Comes Next
Nolan’s post-match comments highlighted a blend of pride and patience. The manager acknowledged Wheatley’s technical quality and finishing instinct while emphasising that consistency, rather than statistics, will define his development.
“I’ve been delighted with him,” Nolan said. “Goals will come and I’m sure they’ll start flowing. I’m not only judging him on goals but not many can finish his goal the way he did. He opened his foot up brilliantly and guided it into the far corner.”
The next youth to be promoted and fed in next season this young striker #EthanWheatley will surely push holjund with every chance he gets lookout for the #risingballer Brace again tonight leading the line like a pro pic.twitter.com/0v7ye1cAby
— 🇹🇹UtdMark🔰 (@UTDMarcx) April 23, 2024
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The goal capped a strong individual display and may mark a turning point in Wheatley’s loan spell. For Northampton, nurturing the 19-year-old’s confidence could be as valuable as his output in front of goal. Nolan has made no secret of his admiration for the forward’s work rate and attitude, and Saturday’s performance underlined why the club were keen to secure him from Old Trafford.
Northampton’s victory over Doncaster continued a promising run of form after a challenging start to life under Nolan, who is gradually shaping the Cobblers into a balanced, competitive unit. With fixtures coming thick and fast, Wheatley’s emergence offers fresh attacking options for a side aiming to climb into mid-table before the winter break.
For the teenager, the challenge is now to build on the momentum and translate potential into regular production. Nolan’s message was clear: stay positive, stay brave, and let the goals follow. If Wheatley maintains that mindset, both his confidence and Northampton’s season could begin to accelerate in tandem.
