Northampton Town Football Club

The Cobblers will be without right-back Aaron Phillips (hamstring) for Saturday’s trip to Bristol Rovers but Hiram Boateng is added to the squad with clearance now received for the loanee midfielder. The issue of how to address the right back slot is a quandry, and with short term loans now not an option, any signing would have to be until the end of the season with Phillips only set to miss a game or two.

Options within the current squad include Paul Anderson and Harry Beautyman, who have both played at right back with previous clubs. Anderson played as a full back at times for Ipswich Town in the Championship while Beautyman has operated in that role on occasions for Peterborough United.

“Aaron has a grade one hamstring tear,” confirmed boss Rob Page.

“It’s not the worst injury in the world and we will probably only miss him for a maximum of two games.

“Aaron coming off certainly had an impact on the game but in terms of replacing him it’s a difficult one because we have already got two right-backs at the club and he will only be out for a week to ten days. We can't now sign a right back just for a month, it has to be until the end of the season, but if we go out and get one now we could have three right backs in a few weeks and is that the best use of our funds or a loan option?

“Hiram Boateng is available for Saturday and both Gregg and Hiram are settling in well.

"They are great lads and they are certainly both going to add something different to the team.

“We saw glimpses of what Gregg can do on Monday and Hiram is a real warrior in midfield.”