Northampton Town v Cheltenham: Tom Vickers' preview
It probably couldn't get any worse for Cobblers boss Ian Sampson.
The injury situation at Sixfields is starting to slide out of control and the latest blow comes in the shape of on-loan Middlesbrough star Josh Walker.
Walker, who only started his spell at Sixfields on November 19, sustained a dislocated shoulder just ten minutes into the game against Hereford United on Tuesday night and he is almost certain to be out for the rest of the season.
And Sampson has confirmed that the 20-year-old will now return to the Riverside to begin his lengthy recovery process.
Walker's woe has added a new page to Cobblers' thick injury catalogue, with plenty of doubts remaining over who will and who won't make the line-up against Cheltenham tomorrow.
Strike pair Adebayo Akinfenwa and Steve Guinan are struggling to make it, key man Luke Guttridge is rated as 50/50 and Abdul Osman will sit alongside Liam Davis in the stands.
Courtney Herbert will be risked at Whaddon Road and Dean Beckwith could also come back into contention as Sampson looks to steady his depleted side. The permanent loss of Walker has hit the boss hard and his biggest problem ahead of the bottom-of-the-table clash against the Robins is how to fill the holes left by what can only be described as a midfield massacre.
"It's not ideal is it because you try to get someone on loan to improve your team and he goes in the team and does quite well," said the Town boss on his latest injury victim.
"Josh is a good footballer so he was a loss to the team when he came off the other night and we'll be trying to plug the gaps now.
"We've got players who can go back in there – John Curtis can go do the job and Alex (Dyer) was disappointing the other night but he's got potential. Obviously Luke (Guttridge), if he is fit, can go back in there as well."
Herbert's inevitable return to the starting line-up should provide a big boost for travelling Town, with his absence underlining the lack of pace in the side over recent weeks.
Sampson clearly realises that the ex-Long Buckby star has become a vital part in what he is trying to do at the club and the Cobblers gaffer is ready to take a risk on him for what is fast becoming a crucial match-up.
He added: "There haven't been any reserve games to chuck him into and I wouldn't say he is fully fit but in times of need you have to get on with it.
"Courtney has trained for about three days, which is not ideal but we need him out there.
"In terms of Cheltenham, I don't think it matters who you're playing against, you need to have a positive attitude going into the games."
Sampson has seen his side put in some good performances of late, notably at Aldershot and at home to Southampton, but after the Hereford heartache they are still searching for that elusive win.
In fact, Cobblers have not won in the league since the mauling of Morecambe on October 24 and the boss will be desperate to get a win one way or another.
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Weather for Northampton
Tuesday 07 February 2012
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