Albion midfielder Marc Leonard is pushing for a first League Two start as he returns to Sussex.

The on-loan 20-year-old impressed as a sub for Northampton as they beat Hartlepool 2-1 on Saturday.

The Cobblers visit winless Crawley tomorrow.

Leonard, who totalled just seven minutes across the first two games of the season, went on at half-time on this occasion with the score 1-1.

Northampton boss Jon Brady looked to tweak his approach in the heat, going for a more patient style, and it appears Leonard's footballing education with the Seagulls' under-23s served him well.

Brady said: "Marc made a difference to us in the second half.

“I thought he added some composure to us on the ball and he made really good decisions.

"He played forward and he ran forward and he broke lines.”

The Northampton Chronicle’s James Heneghan reported: “Leonard immediately made a difference, constantly demanding and wanting the ball and looking to pass forward and get Cobblers on the front foot.

“He was involved in several dangerous attacks as Town battled to victory in the sweltering heat.”

Leonard is on loan to Northampton for the season.