Northampton V Burton Albion at Sixfields Stadium - Match Preview

Northampton must cope without Marc Richards for the visit of Burton after League Two's leading scorer suffered a recurrence of a hamstring injury in midweek.

The 32-year-old, who has netted eight times this term, will be out for at least a month after straining himself in Tuesday's Johnstone's Paint Trophy triumph at Portsmouth.

Teenagers Ivan Toney and David Moyo will now compete for playing time up front along with 21-year-old Lawson D'Ath, while 26-year-old Alex Nicholls has returned from a loan spell at Exeter.

Richards joins Evan Horwood, Lewis Hornby (both tendinitis), Ian Morris (dislocated knee), Emile Sinclair (ankle), Zander Diamond (ankle) and Danny Alfei (hamstring) on the sidelines, but Gregor Robertson is available after suspension.

Damien McCrory made a long-awaited return from injury in Burton's 3-0 defeat to Doncaster in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy in midweek.

The left-back played 45 minutes after undergoing a knee operation following six months out, although he may not be risked for a second start at Northampton.

Manager Gary Rowett has called for a stronger performance and is expected to make several changes following the defeat to Rovers, their fifth in six games, with Stuart Beavon and Adam McGurk likely to return from the bench.

George Taft is likely to return at left-back in place of McCrory, while Robbie Weir is pushing for a recall after on-loan midfielder Callum McFadzean suffered a broken foot last week

Source : PA

Source: PA