Cobblers defender Facey '˜touch and go' for AFC Wimbledon trip

The former Manchester City defender suffered a hamstring strain in the first half of Saturday’s 1-0 defeat to Rochdale at Sixfields, being taken off after just 36 minutes.

It is understood the injury to Facey is not a serious one, but he is a doubt for the Sky Bet League One trip to the Cherry Red Records Stadium this weekend.

“Shay has hurt his hamstring, but thankfully it is not severe as luckily he stopped when he did, but I think for this weekend he will be touch and go,” said the Cobblers boss, talking to the media at Moulton College on Tuesday morning.

Brendan Moloney wasn’t on the bench at the weekend due to a slight niggle to his knee, but the Irishman is now fit, and would seem the obvious choice to replace Facey against Wimbledon.

“This is why we have a squad, it is why we felt we needed to bring in another right-back, and it now gives an opportunity for somebody else if Shay doesn’t make it.

“Hopefully whoever players will take his chance.”

On Moloney’s fitness, Hasselbaink said of him not being involved last weekend: “That was just a precaution.

“Brendan didn’t feel 100 per cent, and he didn’t know if something happened to Shay in the first five minutes or so, that he would be able to play 85 or 90 minutes.

“So we took the chance not to put him on the bench.”

There are no other fresh injury concerns for the Cobblers, with the only absentees being long-term pair Aaron Pierre and Aaron Phillips, who won’t be back in training until the end of March at the earliest.