Cobblers team news - latest on Bolger, Sheehan, Mills and Pollock

Sheehan sat out last weekend's 2-0 defeat to Doncaster Rovers with an unspecified muscle injury, while skipper Bolger was forced off in the second half of that game having suffered what appeared to be a hamstring problem.

Both players were left out of Tuesday night's Papa John's Trophy win at Exeter City, and Curle will assess the pair today (Thursday) before deciding if they will be involved this weekend or not.

"We have a few knocks and a few bumps and bruises, and today is the rallying call," said Curle in Thursday media conference ahead of the trip to Gresty Road.

"We are training in the afternoon to give more time for assessment and to get resukts back from scans, and by the end of today we will have a game plan in place.

"The players will have had a walk through of that, and then on Friday we have a run through of that on the training ground, and we will be competitive."

If the pair don't make it, then Curle may decide to stick with Tuesday's central defensive trio of Fraser Horsfall, Joe Martin and Michael Harriman, with the other option perhaps pairing Harriman in a two with Horsfall, who skippered the team at St James Park.

Curle also gave updates on the progress of long-term injury pair Scott Pollock and Joseph Mills, saying both players are 'on schedule' with their recoveries from groin and knee injuries respectively.

"Scott has had a second injection to deal with some lingering inflamation," said the Cobblers boss.

"Millsy has been doing his first field-based rehab, and he has spent the past 10 days on the AlterG, the anti-gravity treadmill, and he is pleased with those results.

"Now it is just getting him back into normal running."

Pollock has yet to feature at all this season, while Mills hasn't played since the 2-0 home deefat to Peterborough United back on October 7.

And Curle admits he will be delighted when they are finally back in the frame.

"They would be two good additions to the squad, one with a wealth of experience and one with the enthusiasm of youth from a player who is developing.

"We had this is an important season for Scott.

"With the club going up, it is one of those where, is he able to maintain his progress in line with the football club?

"So the sooner we get him and Millsy back, then the better it will be for the football club."