Calderwood provides injury update on missing duo and explains reason for wholesale changes
Colin Calderwood says he made seven changes against Stockport County on Tuesday partly due to injuries and partly in an attempt to find a successful ‘formula’.
Nesta Guinness-Walker, Michael Forbes and Dean Campbell all missed out with injury, while Terry Taylor did not start a league game for the first time since August, and Jack Vale, Max Dyche and Jake Evans also dropped to the bench.
Jon Guthrie started his first match in six weeks, and Cameron McGeehan, Jack Perkins and Tyrese Fornah made up a new-look midfield behind a front two of Sam Hoskins and Tom Eaves.
"We've got to find a formula and three of the changes were forced by injury,” explained Calderwood. “Once we got to that stage, there were one or two boys who I wanted to put in the team and see how they did.
"Young Jack Perkins is versatile but I think midfield is a good position for him. We wanted to put him in there and give him an opportunity and have the experience of Cam and Tyrese around him.
"I also want to get Sam forward as much as possible but when he goes and plays at wing-back like he did in the second half, it's hard not to have him in the back of your mind that he's available for that position.”
Guthrie lasted 79 minutes at Edgeley Park before Kyle Edwards made his own return from injury late on, but Cobblers did lose Conor McCarthy at half-time.
"The game started at Formula One pace and that 70, 80 minutes will bring Jon up to speed,” Calderwood added. “Conor's taken a hit on his ankle and he did well to get to half-time so we'll have to see how he is.
"In terms of making them match fit, it's good for Jon, and Kyle's got really nice quality and he has vision and his control is good and what we see in training is excellent. We need to build him into the team as much as we can."
On Guinness-Walker and Campbell, Calderwood explained: "We needed to do a little check on Dean and we've not had the outcome of that yet. Nesta took a nasty whack on his ankle and it'll come down to how sore it is and whether it's worth risking it and making it worse. We've obviously got the free week and we'll make a judgement on that.”