Cobblers midfielder McCourt to undergo further scans on neck injury

Jak McCourt suffered an injury during Saturday's FA Cup win over Harrow Borough (Picture: Kirsty Edmonds)

The former Leicester City trainee was withdrawn due to the problem at the start of the second half, and although an initial X-ray on his neck and upper back has thankfully come back clear, manager Rob Page says the club’s medical team will be investigating further.

“Jak has taken a knock and we are doing some further investigation with regards to scans,” said the Cobblers boss.

“He has had an X-ray on the back of his neck, or the top part of his back, and that has come back all clear which is great news.

“But we might have to do further scans maybe today or tomorrow to get to the bottom of it.

“We think it is just a muscular problem, it went into spasm after the game on Saturday, so we should know more in the next 24 hours.”

The injury means McCourt definitely won’t be involved in Tuesday night’s Checkatrade Trophy group game against West Ham United Under-23s at Sixfields.

The match is a dead rubber for both teams as neither can qualify for the knockout stages, and Page has confirmed he will be making as many changes as he can, without breaking competition rules.

“We have to play five players from either Saturday’s fixture or from previous games, but it is an opportunity for others to play 90 minutes,” said Page, whose team lost their first two group games, 3-0 at home to Wycombe Wanderers and 3-1 at Coventry City.

“We are going to use it as an opportunity to give people games, and there will be changes.

“I will play as few as I have got to with the five, but it is a chance for some of them that have not been involved as much as they would like to get minutes on the pitch.”

Two other players who definitely won’t be involved against the Hammers youngsters are Gaby Zakuani and Kenji Gorre, who are away on international duty with DR Congo and Curacao respectively.

Gorre will be back and available for Saturday’s Sky Bet League One trip to Gillingham, but Zakuani is not available until the Sixfields derby with Peterborough United on November 19.