AFC Wimbledon vs Northampton Town preview - Will Nightingale injury means Wimbledon will re-jig defence for Northampton game

Boss Neal Ardley must again re-jig his defence when Wimbledon host Northampton to cope without Will Nightingale, who is missing with a groin problem.

Karleigh Osborne was sent off for two yellow cards in the weekend's 2-0 defeat at Luton, with Ardley frustrated by the second booking.

Striker Adebayo Akinfenwa will be desperate for goals when leading Wimbledon's line against one of his former clubs at Kingsmeadow Stadium in Tuesday's League Two encounter.

Ardley left Akinfenwa as a lone frontman after Osborne's dismissal at Luton, but will doubtless bolster the attack against Northampton.

Northampton boss Chris Wilder will be struggling to name a complete substitutes' bench given the number of injuries affecting his squad.

Ryan Cresswell, Rod McDonald and Paul Corry all picked up injuries in training last week, with the latter of the three likely to be out for the remainder of the season.

Evan Horwood was on the bench for Saturday's draw at home to Leyton Orient but was there more to make up the numbers, although the Cobblers did welcome back Zander Diamond from a five-month lay-off.

"It's a difficult little period for us but we've got to try and get a team together to go again on Tuesday. If they show the same enthusiasm and character we can go and play anybody in this division," Wilder said at his pre-match press conference.