Northampton manager Ian Sampson will be without defender Dean Beckwith for the visit of managerless Grimsby in League Two on Saturday.

Beckwith limped out of the 3-1 Johnstone's Paint Trophy defeat at MK Dons in midweek after suffering a hamstring strain and is expected to be out for at least a fortnight.

However, fellow centre-half Patrick Kanyuka should be available after he was carried off on a stretcher at stadium:mk. Kanyuka collided with goalkeeper Chris Dunn but only suffered bruising and could make his league bow for the Cobblers.

Sampson has also added former Sheffield Wednesday left-back Peter Gilbert to his ranks.

Midfielder Abdul Osman remains sidelined with a back injury while striker Courtney Herbert is not yet ready to return as the club battle to get to the bottom of his sciatica problem.

Middlesbrough defender John Johnson remains a doubt after he missed last weekend's FA Cup win over Fleetwood with an ankle injury.