Left back available after serving suspension
Left-back Joe Widdowson returns to the Cobblers squad for Wednesday night’s game against Leyton Orient after serving a one-match ban for accumulating five bookings.
“We’ve got a fully fit squad to choose from and I will be picking the strongest team available to try and get us through to the next round,” said boss Aidy Boothroyd.
“A few players were carrying little knocks after the Oxford game but we’ve had a little mini break and that has allowed those players to rest up and recover.
“Luke Guttridge, David Artell and John Johnson are all looking at January and for Alex Nicholls it’s probably next July.
“Sometimes a player like Alex can try and do too much too soon so we have to temper that a little bit.
“Alex has got that raw enthusiasm so it’s understandable but we have to ultimately go with the view of the surgeon, he is the expert. He’s in good hands with Stuart Barker who will work him very hard but at the same time he will make sure that he doesn’t overdo it.
“It’s nice to have Alex around the place and we will keep him involved as much as possible. He is always involved in the classroom sessions we do.
“We are missing him and we will continue to miss him but we have just got to get on with it and it gives somebody else the opportunity to step up.”