Northampton Town v Fleetwood: Jeremy Casey's FA Cup preview
Liam Davis could be handed his first start of the season against non-League minnows Fleetwood Town in the FA Cup first round at Sixfields tomorrow.
The former Coventry City man has been sidelined since the summer after breaking a bone in his foot in pre-season, but he did make a brief substitute appearance in last Saturday's 1-0 Coca-Cola League Two defeat at Torquay United.
The 22-year-old is very short on match practice as he hasn't even been able to play a reserve team fixture, but Town boss Ian Sampson says he will have no qualms about throwing him straight back into the first team.
"It's great to have Liam Davis back," admitted Sampson, who will be taking charge of his first FA Cup tie tomorrow. "He is an exciting player who has got some genuine pace and he is a good crosser of the ball as well.
"He's an important part of our team and if we think he's needed and he's ready then I would be prepared to throw him straight into the team."
The two key things in Davis's favour as he bids to win back a first-team place are that he is left-footed, and so would give the team much-needed balance as only one other player in the squad, Andy Holt, is naturally left-footed. And the second factor in his favour is that he offers real pace.
Former Arsenal man Paul Rodgers has been filling in well at left-back in recent weeks, but his attacking threat is always going to be limited as getting down the line and whipping in crosses does not come naturally to him down the left side.
But Sampson admits he has been impressed with Rodgers' performances, and that Davis's return could give him a bit of a selection headache.
"Paul Rodgers has acquitted himself fantastically well at left-back," said the Cobblers boss. "He probably still needs to work on his positioning a little bit but he's quick and his recovery is fantastic."
Sampson, who could switch Holt to left-back and play Davis left wing, hinted earlier in the week that, following Ben Marshall's return to Stoke City, he is considering even using Davis as a right winger, but that might be too big a gamble to take against an ambitious and hungry Fleetwood side tomorrow.
It's much more likely that Sampson will stick with playing Luke Guttridge on the right, keep the team solid, and make sure the visiting Fishermen aren't given a sniff of an upset.
"There are no easy games in the FA Cup and we will not be taking Fleetwood lightly," said Sampson.
"As a player I was a giant-killer but I was also on the other end of things as well, so I know how it feels from both sides. It is a big game for Fleetwood and I'm sure they will come out at us all guns blazing."
Another selection boost for Sampson is that Dean Beckwith is fit, and he looks likely to return in place of Chris McCready.
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Weather for Northampton
Tuesday 07 February 2012
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