Cobblers hit by illness before Leicester tie as Hogg confirms starting goalkeeper
Cobblers will be without at least four players for Saturday’s opening game of the season against Leicester City.
Jack Burroughs and Liam Shaw missed the whole of pre-season due to injury and neither are expected back in the short-term, while Conor McCarthy played just eight minutes in total after limping off in the friendly against Coventry.
Logan Briggs will also be absent at the King Power as he cannot play against his parent club. The 20-year-old joined Cobblers on a season-long loan from Leicester earlier in the summer.
“There’s no change from the weekend in terms of fitness,” said manager Chris Hogg. “We still have the same injuries from the last few weeks and we’ve also had a little bit of illness in the camp. One or two boys have picked up a bug but we’re hoping they will be OK in time for the weekend.”
On Burroughs and McCarthy, Hogg added: “Conor is back on the grass and he’s done some bits but Jack Burroughs is still going to be out for the medium term.”
Hogg has also confirmed that Zach Jeacock will be his number one between the posts this season. Managers sometimes rotate their goalkeeper for cup competitions but the Lincoln Loanee will start against Leicester.
“Zach’s our number one, especially early on in the season, and he will be playing, I don’t mind saying that now,” confirmed Hogg.