Keeper quandary for Town

Northampton will be without goalkeeper Lee Nicholls for the Capital One Cup visit of last season's finalists Cardiff.

Nicholls moved to Sixfields on loan last week but his parent club Wigan have not given him permission to play in the cup. Youth-team keeper Dean Snedker has impressed while playing for the first team in friendly matches this summer and he could get the nod for the first-round tie. "Lee isn't available for Tuesday night so clearly I've got a decision to make there," said Town boss Aidy Boothroyd. "I still haven't made my mind up yet as to which way I'm going to go, I've got Dean Snedker and we've also had another goalkeeper training with us for the last seven days who could come in. "Dean is a very talented youngster and I'm a great believer in throwing young players in at the deep end if I think they are ready." Defender David Artell joined Northampton on Monday and he, along with fellow summer signings Clive Platt, Alex Nicholls, Ishmel Demontagnac, Chris Hackett and Joe Widdowson, will be pushing for a starting place.