One-minute conversation sealed Jacobs' Cobblers return

Michael Jacobs left Northampton for Derby County in 2012

The chance to return to Northampton Town needed only a one-minute conversation, according to midfielder Michael Jacobs.

The 33-year-old is back at the club where he started his career, after agreeing an initial 12-month deal which also includes what the club describe as "various options."

Jacobs made exactly 100 appearances for the Cobblers before leaving to join Derby County in the Championship in 2012 and going on to win promotion from League One three times with Wolves and Wigan (twice).

"I'm still highly competitive and I want to do well, want to be successful - at this level I've been successful three times so I want to come back and just help out," he told BBC Radio Northampton.

"There are familiar faces you worked with 15 years ago, so it's one of those places no-one really leaves, which is a credit to itself, so it was probably a one-minute conversation of asking if I was interested and we got it sorted, as simple as that."

Jacobs made 41 appearances in the Championship for Derby and, as well as his time with Wolves and Wigan, has also played for Blackpool, Portsmouth and Chesterfield but he admits he always believed he would return to Northampton at some point.

He explained: "I've always enjoyed playing here and when I left I probably didn't want to leave, but it was such a great opportunity to go and play for a big club in the Championship I couldn't turn it down and I played two years in the first team and enjoyed every minute of it.

"It's always been the first score I checked every week when I was playing elsewhere and hopefully I can come here with my experience and be part of something that's going to be successful."