Defender Widdowson in line for Cobblers return against Scunthorpe

The left-back has missed the past two games with a hamstring injury that will be monitored on Friday with a view to adding him to the group that faces the Iron.

But Ian Morris, who has had a troublesome groin injury in recent weeks, is rated at 60-40 to be fit to face his former club while Danny Emerton is back in full training after recovering from a bout of food poisoning.

Neither Widdowson or Morris has suffered a muscle tear, but both injuries are the next level of seriousness and the club is treading carefully with the duo.

A similar policy will be undertaken with Lewis Hornby, who remains out with a back injury and is joined on the unavailable list by skipper Kelvin Langmead, who continues to rehabilitate his knee in the gym, and Alex Nicholls, who is due back in January.

Ishmel Demontagnac serves the first of a three-game suspension for his sending-off at Milton Keynes Dons on Tuesday night.