Team news: Cobblers could have injured players back but Hull's skipper is a doubt

Keith Curle is hopeful of having more options available to him for Saturday's visit of Hull City following the injury crisis that hit the Cobblers last weekend.

Curle essentially had a full team out injured for the clash with Shrewsbury Town after striker Benny Ashley-Seal limped off late in the first-half to make it 11 players in the treatment room.

But with the majority of those injuries not thought to be serious, he could have several players back available this weekend.

Asked how his squad is looking, Curle said: "It's not too bad... we're at a difficult phase of the season where we're trying to get players into robust physical condition so they can withstand the stresses of two, three, four, five games in a short space of time.

"We will get knocks and injuries but that's why you build a squad so you're still able to put out a competitive team and we showed that on Saturday - yes, we had some players unavailable but we still put out a competitive squad."

Meanwhile, opponents Hull could be without skipper Richie Smallwood. The midfielder picked up an injury during Tuesday's defeat at West Ham and manager Grant McCann will only know the full extent of it after he undergoes a scan.

Tom Eaves is nearing a return to action. The striker has been missing since hobbling off against Sunderland in the Carabao Cup, but is expected to be back on the grass in the coming days.

Aside from those two injuries, McCann has a full squad to choose from for City's trip to Sixfields.