MK Dons v Northampton Town LIVE: Updates and team news from final pre-season friendly
Keep up to date with events from Stadium MK on our live blog here...
MK Dons v Cobblers LIVE
Key Events
- Final pre-season run-out for Town
- Majority of first-teamers expected to feature
- Tyreece Simpson set for first appearance
One to go
Hello and welcome to our live blog for today’s final pre-season friendly. Cobblers round off their preparations for the new campaign with the short trip to MK Dons. The two clubs have swapped divisions but look relatively closely matched so this game should provide a decent guage as to where both are at a week out from the new season.
We’ll have team news, updates and more throughout the afternoon.
Who will be involved?
Cobblers should - in theory - be able to field their strongest squad of pre-season today. Jon Guthrie, Will Hondermarck and Kieron Bowie are all likely to be back involved after sitting out Tuesday’s game at Kidderminster.
We may also get a first glimpse of Tyreece Simpson following his arrival on Wednesday. The 21-year-old striker, who’s signed on a season-long loan, has spent pre-season training with Huddersfield Town so should be in decent physical condition.
Trialists latest
Trialists have been heavily involved during pre-season, with nine used in total. Brady may want to take a closer look at one or two but with most first-teamers now back fit, there’s a chance that there’ll be no trialists in the squad today.
We’ll find out shortly...
Just arrived at a sun-soaked Stadium MK. Mad to think that this is now a League Two stadium. Team news on the way shortly. Could be interesting... 👀
Leonard and Simpson both start v MK Dons.
Cobblers XI v MK Dons: Burge, Sherring, Guthrie, Monthe, Odimayo, Koiki, Leonard, Sowerby, Pinnock, Bowie, Simpson.
Subs: Dadge, McGowan, Fox, Appéré, Hondermarck, Abimbola, Brough, Dyche, Trialist A, Trialist B.
Hoskins not involved as a precaution. Squad now looks very strong.
Where are Hoskins and McWilliams?
Both not involved as precautions. They took knocks in training but neither are thought to be serious. Brady taking the ‘better to be safe than sorry’ approach after last season.
“Marc was statistically right at the very top of midfielders in League Two last season and one of the top performing players in the division across all positions. I think his signing, as well as the arrival of Tyreece Simpson, shows the value of being patient.”
Jon Brady on Marc Leonard’s return
Still no Harvey Lintott. He felt a reocurrence of the injury from the end of last season and is being managed at the moment. Hylton, Haynes and Magloire are all out for th forseeable future.
Notable that Cobblers are starting with a back three (Sherring, Guthrie, Monthe). Good chance that that’ll be the formation of choice for the season ahead, at least to start with...
With Leonard’s arrival today, and the addition of Simpson earlier in the week, Cobblers’ squad looks strong, balance and deep. Brady would perhaps want another wide/attacking player to have all basis covered.
Another goalkeeper is a possibility too, although the coaching staff rate young James Dadge. Keeping him as number two means the club would also retain the emergency GK loan option should Burge suffer an injury.