Cox updates on team news and more prior to Northampton trip

First team manager Neil Cox has provided an update on numerous matters while previewing the trip to take on Northampton Town this Saturday.

After bringing in Harry Wood and Hayden Hackney on loan from Championship sides Hull City and Middlesbrough on transfer deadline day, Cox provided an update on how their first day training with new team-mates went.

He told iFollow Iron: "They were excellent and we could tell that training has stepped up because we have two new faces in, while the two who were away because of Covid are back, so it was like four new signings today. People are looking over their shoulders and waiting to see who's going to play and not going to play."

Cox provided an update on the injury situation, adding: "Ross Millen (hamstring) is now back training and Harry Bunn (groin) is also back. It's excellent having more people to pick from, and I can have a look at what to do, how we want to play, and pick the right people for the right job.

"Saturday's game will be too soon for one or two. Ross hasn't trained enough yet, so will probably need another ten days of full training, while Bunny has had a good full week of training after missing the last couple of league games so will be in contention.

"Jordan Hallam is still unavailable and has a little problem in the groin adductor area. He has been on the grass today firing balls around, but we still have to keep an eye on him. With other people fit, we don't have to rush him. He's really frustrated and I feel for him as he does everything properly, but this groin problem has come out of nothing. We need to make sure that when he does come in he's fit and raring to go.

"Alex Kenyon (hamstring) is still out of contention but coming along. We don't have to rush him back. We have to make sure he's 100 per cent fit and don't want what happened last season with players where they were brought back perhaps too soon and then there were further problems, but we have lots of competition in every position. The physio has given me a date and we're trying to get him back before then, but we won't take any unnecessary risks. He's been excellent around the dressing room, like the other lads, and it's a great atmosphere at the minute.

"Ryan Loft (cheekbone) is with a specialist again on Wednesday and then we'll know when he can start training. There have been two problems with his eye and cheek. They both need checking out and then hopefully from Wednesday we'll have confirmation of what we can do."

Looking ahead to the away match at Sixfields Stadium this weekend, Cox continued: "It'll be a difficult game and they will be well organised, playing a 4-4-2 and have experience around the camp. They've brought a couple of players in close to the transfer deadline too so we'll have to see how they set up, and if they change it. We'll do our homework and then it's about what we do - how we set up and how we play.

"We got a good win against Tranmere weekend and it could have been by more. Everyone performed really well and though they had a lot of possession, they didn't really hurt us. We're confident going into the weekend."

See much more from Neil Cox and George Taft on iFollow Iron.