COBBLERS: Walker boost for Crewe clash
The arrival of Josh Walker on loan from Middlesbrough means Ian Sampson has solid competition for places in all departments.
Today the Cobblers boss faces the dilemma of who to partner Walker with, because the 20-year-old will almost certainly come straight into the starting line-up.
Sampson has gone on record to say he will only sign loan players if they are going to play every week – unlike his predecessor, he does not see the value in having lots of players from other clubs around just to busy up the training paddock.
So the only debate is who will play alongside the highly-rated youngster.
John Curtis offers a streetwise know-how that could be the perfect complement to Walker's youthful enthusiasm, while Ryan Gilligan's pure energy would give the midfield an all-action edge.
Then there's Luke Guttridge, who has undoubted class but who may find his temporary right-wing role extended with Liam Davis still injured.
Whoever plays, today's game should be significantly better than last weekend's draw with Grimsby.
It won't be played in a gale for a start, and the Railwaymen's preference for passing football should make the contest easy on the eye.
"When we haven't got the ball we need to keep a nice shape and frustrate them," said Sampson, who has spent the past two days formulating the gameplan with assistant Malcolm Crosby.
"Then when we get the ball it's important we get into the areas that they leave open.
"That's what we've been working on in training these past two days.
"We've tried to get a bit more movement and into our game because it's important we get that and I'm looking forward to the game."
Walker's passage into the squad will have been smoothed by the presence of fellow Middlesbrough loanee John Johnson, who will be happy to show his Teesside team-mate the Sixfields ropes.
Johnson has been a fixture at right-back and enjoyed some strong outings there, doing enough to dislodge Paul Rodgers, who started the season as first choice in that position.
Rodgers will today deputise for Peter Gilbert on the other side of the back four as he serves a one-game suspension that the club never considered appealing against.
"I looked at it again and it was touch and go as to whether it was an actual sending-off or not," said Sampson.
"I think it might have been deemed a frivolous appeal if we'd tried it.
"We haven't had much success with them in the past and it costs the club money so we took the one game and we'll get on with it."
Cobblers (probable): Dunn; Johnson, Kanyuka, McCready, Rodgers; Guttridge, Gilligan, Walker, Holt; Akinfenwa, Guinan. Subs from: Brown, Dyer, Mulligan, Hinton, Harris, Jacobs, McKay
Read all the weekend's big match previews in today's Kick Off pull-out
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Thursday 24 May 2012
Today
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