Cobblers set to be at full strength for Tranmere Rovers clash

Boss Dean Austin has revealed that central midfielder Shaun McWilliams missed out at Colchester United last weekend due to a minor issue in his recovery from his hamstring strain, but he is hopeful the 20-year-old will be available.

“Shaun trained with us last Thursday, and I wouldn’t say he had a setback, but he felt it right at the end of the session, after training really well,” said Austin, who has been without the player since the opening day of the season.

“He was a little bit down on his strength test on the Friday, so we said right ‘let’s just get him out running’ and then he has done his work on Saturday.

“We gave him a bit of a break and he joined back in on Tuesday, not doing everything, but near on everything, and he was full out in the physical conditioning part we did.

“I am very hopeful he will be available for selection at the weekend.

“Everybody else is fine, we had a couple of little niggles at the end of last week but they seem to have cleared up now.

“Touch wood, as long as training goes well over the next couple of days, we should have a full strength squad to pick from.”

Austin is also confident that squad will be unchanged, despite the window for loan moves not shutting until 5pm on Friday (Aug 31).

The Town boss says he is ‘very happy’ with the squad he has at his disposal, and that he isn’t looking to bring anybody else in.

The only thing which would alter that mindset is a player actually leaving the club, but Austin says he is not expecting anybody to move on, although he knows he won’t be able to relax fully until the window shuts tomorroW.