Northampton Town boss Jon Brady has labelled Elliot Anderson a "special player" as Bristol Rovers prepare for the battle between promotion rivals at Sixfields on Saturday.
Anderson's excellent form since joining Joey Barton's Gas on loan from Newcastle United on January deadline day has been influential in Rovers' advances into the play-off places with three goals and two assists in 12 appearances.
The Cobblers have been in promotion contention since the start of the season, holding a place in the top seven for much of the season, but Rovers' campaign has had a different trajectory. Barton's Gas have stormed into contention by taking 31 points in 15 games since the turn of the year.
Brady is not surprised in the slightest that Rovers have surged into the top seven, singling out Anderson as a player his squad must be wary of.
"We knew all along that they are a good side, and they have hit form since the turn of the year really, " Brady told the Northampton Chronicle.
"They are going well at the moment and are looking good, but they are coming to our place and we are looking forward to the challenge on Saturday.
"They have brought the lad Anderson in from Newcastle and he has done very well for them, he looks like quite a special player.
"They also have a bit more youth in their side now and are on a good run, but I feel we are on a not too bad a run ourselves. We have caught up ground on Forest Green because if you look at the start of February we were 14 points behind them, and now we are only six.
"You can look at things in many ways, but that is a positive and we are catching ground on the leaders."
While Barton has been able to name an unchanged lineup for three successive victories, Northampton have injury concerns ahead of the clash at Sixfields. Former Rovers defender Ali Koiki, who has starred for the Cobblers this season, limped out of Tuesday's win over Stevenage with a hamstring complaint, while midfielder Shaun McWilliams missed the game in midweek with a knee issue.
"We have one or two niggles that we are trying to get through it and assess," Brady added. "We are just waiting on a couple of players at the moment, so we will see where we are."
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