The 34-year-old midfielder is on trial at Sixfields and could fit the bill as the experienced central midfielder Stuart Gray has been seeking.

Gray's midfield is strong with player-of-the-year Danny Jackman and Giles Coke – who was outstanding in several games at the end of last season – joined by the athletic Abdul Osman over the summer.

But the credential that trio all lack is experience at League One level – something Watson, with almost 450 senior appearances to his name, has in spades.

"I've invited Kevin to come in and train with us and he'll probably
feature in the game tonight," said Gray.

"He's an old head and someone who can just sit in midfield for us and bring a bit of experience. I've always said I wanted an older head in there.

"It's a good opportunity for him to have a look at us and for us to have a look at him. The ball is in his court. He has got decent pedigree and a good playing background."

Gray also commented on the specualtion linking him with a loan bid for highly-rated Ipswich Town striker Jordan Rhodes.

The Cobblers boss feels the opportunities he has given temporary signings in the past have marked out Sixfields as an attractive place for clubs from a higher level to farm out their rising stars.

"We're always going to be linked with Ipswich players because I've got a good relationship with Jim Magilton," he said. "I think clubs can see how we develop players when we have them on loan and the football we give them.

"Championship clubs do carry big squads and they let players out. But in the Premier League this season you can name seven subs so it will be harder to get players from that level."

QPR come to Sixfields in "very, very good spirits", according to their assistant manager Tim Flowers.

Rangers are approaching their first season since new owners Flavio Briatore, Bernie Ecclestone and the Mittal family completed their takeover.

The west London club are officially the richest in the world with the men in their boardroom worth a staggering £22billion – the majority of that attributed to the Mittals.

But while there is no shortage of cash in the Loftus Road coffers the key commodity at this stage of pre-season for the manager is spirit.

"The spirit is very, very good. We're delighted with the squad we've got," said Flowers.

"We're not going to shout from the roof-tops. We're going to get on with it nice and quietly and see how we go."

The former England goalkeeper is aware of the expectations on the club after its high-profile takeover and the arrival of new manager Iain Dowie and several summer signings.

Highly-rated Blackpool defender Kaspar Gorkss is the latest man to be linked with a switch to the big-spenders who have already taken two players on loan from Serie A.