Alan Knill: Assistant boss rues 'freak' Northampton injury crisis

Alan Knill is frustrated that they have not been able to call on Kelvin Langmead for much of the season due to injury

Northampton Town assistant boss Alan Knill says their current injury crisis is a "freak situation" and they have tried everything to stop it worsening.

The Cobblers are without Marc Richards, Zander Diamond, Ian Morris, Evan Horwood, Lewis Hornby and Lee Collins.

Knill told BBC Radio Northampton: "We've scaled training down and up but you put it down to a freak situation.

"It's about getting through because we can't get a settled team on the pitch."

The injury problems seemed to be easing at Sixfields, with centre-back Kelvin Langmead returning to the squad for Saturday's 3-2 defeat by Cheltenham.

Centre-half Collins was close to featuring at Whaddon Road before suffering a trapped nerve in his foot but striker Emile Sinclair and goalkeeper Matt Duke are set to return imminently.

"You look to be in a strong position then you're not losing one player, you're losing three," said Knill.

"I'm not saying that's why we lost the last two games, but, if we had our best team out, we'd be in a stronger position.

"Even without it, we're doing pretty well to be where we are."

The Cobblers lie 12th in League Two ahead of Tuesday's game against manager Chris Wilder's former side, Oxford United.

"We have beaten Portsmouth away in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy so I think everything can get carried away - you lose a couple and it's doom and gloom," added Knill.

"But we are still positive and looking forward to Oxford.

"Chris will want to win this one. When you play a side you've been in charge of or played for, you want to win. This fixture is a big one for both."