David Artell will miss up to three months after it was confirmed the Cobblers centre-back has suffered a slight tear of his Achilles tendon.
The centre-back sat out Saturday’s 3-0 win over Exeter City, with his place in the heart of the defence alongside Kelvin Langmead taken by Anthony Charles, who had just completed a one-game suspension for his sending-off at Bristol Rovers.
Charles will now be given a long run in the side, starting at Barnet on Friday night (8pm kick-off), where he should be part of an unchanged Town team.
Danny East is close to full fitness but Chris Hackett has performed very well as a right-back and could keep his place there for a game against a team without a win in league football this season.
John Johnson is still three weeks away from availability but the keyhole surgery he underwent to repair torn cartilage in his right knee was a success and the defender has started his rehabilitation.
Midfielders Ben Harding (ankle) and Luke Guttridge (foot) are out, while goalkeeper Shane Higgs will be kept out of action for another week as part of standard procedure following a concussion.
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