Prior to their League One matchup with Derby County, Northampton is having some selection issues.
For Derby County to advance from League One into the Championship, they must win seven crucial games. The Rams have a four-point advantage over their closest rivals, the Bolton Wanderers, and now sit second in the division.
For Derby manager Paul Warne, it’s a respectable buffer, but the work is still far from done. While the remainder of the promotion cohort is away on international duty, the next test will take place at Sixfields Stadium, home of Northampton Town.
It emphasises how crucial it is to increase your score and make the move to advance. The Cobblers will also need to think about a few selection concerns before the tie.
Jon Brady, the manager of Northampton, is having some difficulty choosing his team for the game. Although top scorer Sam Hoskins is expected to make a comeback from illness, defender Patrick Brough appears to have been ruled out of the match due to injury.
“[Patrick] Broughy’s evaluation is still pending,” Brady stated on the team’s official website. “We’re simply waiting on the results of his scan, which some doctors will be providing to us shortly.
“Today [Tuesday] is training for Sam [Hoskins], who is feeling better, but other than that, we’ll probably play Wycombe this weekend.”
The Cobblers may be affected by international call-ups. Tony Springett, a former Derby loanee, is travelling with the Republic of Ireland under-21s, while Kieron Bowie is joining the Scotland under-21s. The two could be featured at will, but only if their international managers so choose.
Brady asserted, “You have to prepare for the worst case scenario because it’s up to the under-21 managers at the international level and we’re in the hands of someone else.” “We have spoken with Kieron’s [Bowie] manager at Scotland, and he has to make his own selection and choice. To be fair, Kieron has started every game, so for now, we are under their control.”
In their final seven games, Derby needs to perform at their peak, and their current form could secure promotion. But it begins at Northampton, where teams knowing that three points would get them one step closer to the finish line may find themselves facing an uphill battle even with games remaining.
