Northampton Town manager Kevin Nolan has suggested he may be forced into changes for the weekend clash with Bolton Wanderers due to injuries and fitness concerns.
The Cobblers are preparing for one of their toughest home fixtures of the season at Sixfields, but niggles within the squad mean the starting XI could look different from recent league outings.
League One
Injury concerns ahead of Bolton clash
Nolan kept his selections consistent across the last two league games, with Jordan Thorniley stepping in for the injured Nesta Guinness-Walker. However, Guinness-Walker could again be unavailable, while Kyle Edwards, Elliott List and Tom Eaves remain sidelined, alongside Jon Guthrie and Liam Shaw. The manager also admitted there are fresh doubts over other unnamed players.
“There are some other niggles here and there within the squad but the good thing about the group we have and how we built it is that we can take people out and put others in when needed. We don’t want to risk anyone and potentially lose them for four, five, six weeks.”
Nolan stressed the importance of protecting his players, even if it means short-term disruption to his team selection. He highlighted squad depth as a key factor in being able to manage the situation effectively.
The 42-year-old added that fringe players such as Jordan Willis and Joe Wormleighton have been pushing for opportunities. Both impressed during Tuesday’s EFL Trophy victory and could now come into consideration for the bench this weekend.
“There will be niggles, knocks and bruises but we’ll manage them properly and the lads who we select on Saturday will be feeling 100 per cent and ready to go.”
Trophy win boosts confidence
Northampton’s 3-0 win over Chelsea Under-21s in midweek provided valuable game time for players returning from injuries and those seeking to build fitness. Nolan was pleased with how his side approached the match, noting the professionalism of those who came into the line-up.
“Tuesday was valuable for us because we have lads coming back from injuries and people who have been on the bench but are only coming on for 10 or 15 minutes. To get them through 90 minutes was really good.
“Chelsea are going really well in Premier League 2 but we dealt with them well and I thought everybody who featured acquitted themselves well and I was pleased with the attitude and professionalism.”
The result was a timely boost before the Cobblers’ return to League One action, where they face a Bolton side with promotion ambitions and one of the most consistent squads in the division.
Writer’s View
Nolan is clearly adopting a cautious approach to squad management, aware that the bigger picture could be compromised if players are rushed back too quickly.
The strength of his bench was evident against Chelsea’s youngsters, and the upcoming clash with Bolton offers a chance to show the benefit of that depth.
