Northampton v Burton preview

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Northampton will be without Zander Diamond and Darren Carter for their home clash with Burton.

Midfielder Carter picked up his 10th yellow card of the season in last weekend’s 1-0 win at Accrington and begins his two-match suspension, while centre-back Diamond is ineligible under the terms of his loan from the Brewers.

Cobblers boss Chris Wilder has hinted Ben Tozer and Gregor Robertson will be the men to replace the pair.

Defender Kelvin Langmead (knee) could be in the matchday squad for the first time in 11 months as Wilder’s side look to keep their survival hopes alive.

Adam McGurk will return to the Burton squad at Northampton.

The forward comes back into the reckoning after recovering from the thigh and hip problems he suffered against York.

Albion boss Gary Rowett has a decision to make at right-back, with David Gray outstanding last week after replacing Phil Edwards who had been ill all week with flu. Edwards is fit again, presenting Rowett with a dilemma.

Striker Billy Kee and defender Marcus Holness are also fit having recovered from the same bug.

Northampton v Burton preview

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David Artell is set to make his long-awaited return to the Northampton squad.

Artell has made a complete recovery from the Achilles injury that has kept him out since the start of October.

The experienced centre-back will provide significant competition for places in a defence that leaked three goals in the opening 25 minutes at Chesterfield last weekend.

However, fellow defender John Johnson, who has also spent several weeks on the sidelines due to a knee injury, will not be considered for selection.

Cobblers boss Aidy Boothroyd will take a more cautious approach with the full-back, who has had two knee operations this season and whose comeback from the first of those was aborted in November.

“Ideally I would like them both to play in a reserve-team game but at the moment I might have to use the games to get them fit if I need them,” said Boothroyd.

“Dave Artell will come into contention for Saturday and be on the bench at least. Johnno is still not quite right yet so we’ll take our time with him.”

Boothroyd could also opt to freshen up his team with the likes of Ishmel Demontagnac, Lewis Hornby, Lewis Wilson and Louis Moult – all of whom were on the bench for the 3-0 defeat at Chesterfield.

Burton are assessing midfielder Lee Bell and leading scorer Calvin Zola ahead of their trip.

Bell came off in injury-time at the end of Albion’s 2-1 home win over Torquay last weekend after being on the receiving end of a heavy tackle.

Zola also failed to finish the game – but only after scoring Burton’s opening goal in a victory that powered the Brewers back into the npower League Two play-off places.

The big striker suffered a recurrence of a groin strain that had prevented him from training since the FA Cup tie at Leicester on January 5.

Boss Gary Rowett has options should he need to replace either Bell or Zola, or opt to make changes to his starting line-up.

Defenders Aaron Webster and Marcus Holness, midfielders Jack Dyer, John McGrath and Jimmy Phillips and striker Matt Paterson are all vying for recalls.

Northampton v Burton preview

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Kelvin Langmead comes back into the reckoning for Northampton.

Langmead missed the 2-0 defeat at Oxford last weekend as the on-loan defender served a one-match suspension for the red card he received during the 1-1 home draw with Crewe.

Aidy Boothroyd’s squad will also be boosted by the addition of goalkeeper Shane Higgs, who became his first signing as manager on Thursday when he put pen to paper on an 18-month contract.

Defender Byron Webster, meanwhile, is on the verge of returning from a lengthy lay-off with a foot injury after he resumed training.

“Byron is back training with us now,” said Boothroyd. “He probably needs a couple of weeks training to get back up to speed but sometimes needs must and I’m not afraid to throw anyone in who has been out for a period of time.”

Darren Moore and Adi Yussuf have resumed training to give Burton boss Paul Peschisolido virtually a full squad to choose from.

Veteran club skipper Moore (broken toe) and young striker Yussuf (ankle) were involved in a behind-closed-doors friendly against Derby on Wednesday afternoon after lengthy absences.

Defender Tony James is likely to be the only absentee with the groin strain that forced him to miss the 1-1 home draw against Dagenham & Redbridge last weekend.

Leading scorer Billy Kee could be restored to the starting line-up after returning from a groin injury as a second-half substitute against the Daggers.

Defender Andrew Corbett and midfielders Chris Palmer, Jimmy Phillips and Andres Gurrieri are also options for Peschisolido should he wish to make changes.

Northampton v Burton preview

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Northampton will be without left-back Liam Davis.

The former Coventry man came off at half-time at Southend on Saturday with an Achilles injury which will keep him out for around a week, so veteran Marcus Hall will start.

On-loan Watford midfielder Josh Walker missed the club’s sixth straight draw at Roots Hall with a hamstring injury and has had treatment back at Vicarage Road.

He remains a doubt while central defender Dean Beckwith is struggling with the flu. Fellow defender Craig Hinton will have an injection this week in a long-standing knee injury and he will be out for around a month.

Goalkeeper Chris Dunn makes his 100th appearance for the Cobblers but former Albion striker Shaun Harrad misses out as he serves the third and final game of his suspension.

Another draw would be a new club record.

Burton boss Paul Peschisolido must decide whether to make changes.

Peschisolido was at a loss to explain his side’s 4-2 loss on Saturday to Rotherham.

The Canadian could shuffle his pack or, as he did following the recent disappointing performance in the defeat at Torquay, name the same starting XI and give those players a chance to redeem themselves.

Should Peschisolido alter things, he has options all over the pitch. Scott Malone could return from a thigh injury, while fellow defenders Darren Moore and Ryan Austin are available.

Jimmy Phillips and Luke Young could compete for a midfield place and Sam Winnall and Richard Walker are options in attack as Calvin Zola remains sidelined with a hamstring injury.