Cobblers skipper Charlie Goode, a nominee for the PFA Player of the month for September in Sky Bet League 2, has recovered from the illness that kept him out of last weekend’s game against Leyton Orient.
Goode is set to line up against his former club on Saturday and Cobblers boss Keith Curle is delighted to have the central defender available.
“Charlie is looking good, he is a vital cog in what we are trying to do,” he said.
“He’s got over the bug that absolutely wiped him out, it has affected a few of the other players in the squad as well but hopefully they will all be okay."
Curle also spoke about the return to fitness of goalkeeper Steve Arnold and looking to get some of the younger players out on loan.
“We are trying to organise a game for next Tuesday and hopefully that will give Steve the opportunity to get some game time.
“Andrew Fisher did exceptionally well at Cambridge on Tuesday and there is real competition in that department which is what you want.
“It was good for some more players to get some game time on Tuesday, players who are maybe not in the team but who need that regular game time and that is something we are looking to step up and look into.
“The younger players are developing, they are getting the training with the first team squad but they need that game time as well.
“They need that for their individual development, Jay Williams has gone out on loan, Jack Newell has just come back but we are looking to get him out on loan again.
“There have been approaches for Ryan Hughes, Camron McWilliams and Morgan Roberts and with players coming back to fitness that does allow us to look at that. Those players are fully part of the squad but they need that competitive 90 minutes on a Saturday to help them with their individual development.”