COBBLERS: 'Bayo is not for sale'
Ian Sampson is adamant leading goalscorer Adebayo Akinfenwa will not be sold in the January transfer window.
The 27-year-old has caught the eye in the past month with his improved fitness levels and a scoring ratio that is now better than one in two.
Akinfenwa's physical presence and team play – not to mention his ability in front of goal – have attracted the attention of plenty of scouts, with Leyton Orient understood to be interested in the big man.
But Sampson is well aware of how important the striker is to his team, and is confident the club will resist any attempts to lure Akinfenwa away from Sixfields when the transfer window reopens.
"I haven't been contacted by anybody about any of my players," said the Cobblers boss. "Bayo is certainly not a player I would be trying to move away from this football club. He is absolutely vital to this team, he's training more than ever and better than ever, and his goalscoring record at this club is fantastic.
"I would be adamant that he is not for sale and I'm pretty sure the chairman would be of the same opinion."
But while Sampson hopes the club will keep hold of Akinfenwa in the January transfer window, he did confirm several players will be made available for transfer.
Town currently operate with one of the top-six budgets in Coca-Cola League Two, and that's a financial framework that has been topped up by Cardoza since Sampson took charge to allow the new manager the chance to bring in his own players.
But next month it may be the case that some will have to be shipped out before any new faces can arrive.
Meanwhile, Liam Davis will have another scan on his foot injury this week with the aim of being fit for early January. Davis made an aborted comeback three weeks ago after missing the entire season with a metatarsal fracture.
And Sampson said: "Liam must be pig sick because we thought he was over it and he was back in the team, playing matches. But we'll have it scanned again and see how it is."
Luke Guttridge could be back in the fold for the Boxing Day game after having another injection in his troublesome knee injury. Sampson confirmed: "It was quite a nasty one, it went right into the bone, but we might have him back for the Dagenham game."
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