Knill rules out Cobblers squad rotation for Coventry City FA Cup clash

GOING FOR GLORY - Chris Wilder (left) and Alan Knill won't be rotating their squad for the FA Cup clash at Coventry City on Saturday

Cobblers assistant boss Alan Knill has stressed there will be no rotation of the Cobblers squad as they head to Sky Bet League One side Coventry City in the FA Cup first round on Saturday.

Town manager Chris Wilder has previously this season used matches in both the Capital One Cup and Johnstone’s Paint Trophy to give players not involved on a weekly basis the chance to get some game time.

But Knill says that won’t be the case this weekend.

Player fatigue is certainly not an issue as the Cobblers have seven clear days without a game both before and after the tie at the Ricoh Stadium, and there is also the little matter of progression to the second round and the £18,000 prize money that would bring the cash-strapped club.

INJURY DOUBT - Joel Byrom is substituted at Newport County on Saturday

“It is a big chance for us to earn some money, and we need money at the moment,” said Knill.

“Chris and I spoke about this game, and we both decided that whatever we do we are going to put our best team out.

“We are going to put a team out that we think can go to Coventry and win, because it is a great opportunity for us, and it is a great game for us.

“When you first looked at it you thought, ‘phew, Coventry away...’, but then you look at it and we can go there and play.

INJURY CONCERN - Ryan Cresswell hasn't played since suffering a groin strain in the 3-2 win over Carlisle United on October 20

“Nobody expects us to beat Coventry, so we can go there and play with freedom and have a real go at them.

“We decided there won’t be any rotation or anything like that, we are going to put our best team out to try and win it.”

Whether that team will include central midfielder Joel Byrom is up for debate.

The former Preston North End man suffered a hip problem in last Saturday’s 2-2 draw at Newport County, and he has to be considered a doubt for the trip to take on the Sky Blues.

Central defender Ryan Cresswell is also struggling to be fit in time.

Cresswell is back running again after suffering a groin strain in the 3-2 win over Carlisle United last month, but Saturday may come too soon for him.

Brendan Moloney and Evan Horwood are both available for selection and have been training full-time, but Knill admits they need more game time to up their sharpness.

There is also encouraging news on Ricky Holmes, who is now back running and working with a ball in training, having not played since suffering a back spasm in the warm-up ahead of the defeat at Barnet on August 18.