Northampton Town vs Mansfield Town - Northampton wait on Byrom and Cresswell for Mansfield clash

Northampton will check on Joel Byrom and Ryan Cresswell ahead of the home game against Mansfield.

Midfielder Byrom missed last weekend's FA Cup win at Coventry due to a hip problem while defender Cresswell has been out for three games with a groin injury, but is close to returning.

Ricky Holmes will be absent again but is stepping up his training and has been pencilled in for a return at the end of the month.

The winger has been sidelined virtually all season with a back injury but was out warming up with his team-mates prior to the Coventry game.

Stags boss Adam Murray will be boosted by the return of defender Krystian Pearce who completed his four-match suspension last weekend.

But Murray will be loathe to make changes to his defensive formation after his side secured their second clean sheet in their last three games against Oldham.

Murray could be more tempted to freshen up his forward line with Tanzanian Abdillahie Yussuf among those pushing for a start after being a non-playing substitute last week.

Nathan Thomas and Matt Blair will also hope to have impressed Murray enough to start after solid second-half displays last week.