PAWEL ABBOTT will pull on Town's No9 shirt for the first time tonight aiming to follow in the goalscoring footsteps of a long line of stars to have worn the symbolic number.

The 21-year-old wore No25 for his six outings while on loan from First Division Preston.

But now a permanent deal has been completed, he will take over Jon Stead's old number.

"I'm really pleased to have sorted things out and signed for a big club," said the Polish Under 21 cap.

"There has been a lot of speculation over the past week or so, but now I have the security of a three-year deal and I can concentrate on doing my best for Town and their great fans.

"Peter Jackson and the coaching staff have been a big draw for me.

"They have been great towards me and their enthusiasm is something the players take on.

"The spirit is better than anything I have known in football and it's been great to step into it."

With money from the £1.25m sale of Stead being swallowed up by debts, Town chief executive Andrew Watson said the Abbott deal, believed to be for around £125,000, had been financed by club owner Ken Davy.

"We are an ambitious club. Our aim to secure promotion is paramount and every fan knows the contribution Pawel has already made," he said.

"The board believed signing him permanently was only right."

Town have less than a quarter of their 1,200 ticket allocation for Northampton on Saturday remaining.

Town: Rachubka, Holdsworth, Lloyd, Mirfin, Sodje, Clarke, Carss, Worthington, Schofield, Booth, Abbott. Subs: Edwards, McAliskey, Newby, Scott, Senior.

Rochdale: Edwards, Evans, Burgess, Livesey, Smith, Bertos, McClare, Jones, Doughty, Townson, Holt. Subs: Griffiths, McCourt, McEvilly, Gilks, Warner.

Referee: Mark Clattenburg (Tyne and Wear).