Sampson facing striking headache

21 February 2011 12:00
Northampton will be without their first-choice strikeforce when they make the trip to Hereford. January signing Shaun Harrad will serve the first game of a three-match ban following his red card against Aldershot on Saturday, while Leon McKenzie is a doubt. McKenzie - who scored a hat-trick when the Bulls won 4-3 at Sixfields earlier this season - has been plagued by knee and thigh injuries all season and struggles to play twice in four days. Manager Ian Sampson said: "Leon is a concern and I'd only rate him about 50/50. I'm sure he will want to play but I need to make sure that he is at the same level that he was at the start of this run of games and this game might be one too many for him. "Shaun Harrad came in and apologised to me after the game for his red card and he will be dealt with accordingly. I don't know whether it was frustration or not but he shouldn't have done it. The intent was there and we've now got to plan without him for the next three games." Midfielder Abdul Osman will sit out as he completes a three-match ban and striker Tadhg Purcell is still sidelined with the serious knee injury that ended his season in August.

Source: PA