New boss Keith Curle set to lead Northampton for first time as they host Bury

Keith Curle will take charge of struggling Northampton for the first time in Tuesday’s League Two clash with Bury at Sixfields.

Former England defender Curle was installed as the Cobblers’ new manager on Monday, just a day after Dean Austin left the club.

Aaron Pierre had to settle for a seat on the bench as Northampton were thumped 4-0 at Mansfield on Saturday, in the defeat that cost Austin his job.

The defender could come back into the reckoning for the first time since his sending off against Port Vale on September 15, with Curle doubtless keen to put his stamp on proceedings in the East Midlands.

Jermaine Beckford will be eyeing a first start in almost a year as Bury look to build on Saturday’s 2-1 win at Colchester.

The 34-year-old forward remained an unused replacement in the weekend’s victory on the road, but featured for the first time this season in the previous clash, the home defeat to Carlisle, having now recovered from knee surgery.

Midfielder Callum Styles is also fit again and was another to be sat on the bench at the weekend, without joining the fray.

Strikers Chris Dagnall and Byron Moore found the net in the win at Colchester, but boss Ryan Lowe could mix up his resources to keep all his forwards fit and firing.