Northampton Town prepare for their Sky Bet League Two trip to Gillingham on Saturday August 29, 2026, with manager Chris Hogg assessing squad availability. The Cobblers will be without Jack Burroughs and Liam Shaw due to ongoing recovery, while Conor McCarthy could return after featuring in the EFL Trophy midweek. Nathan Opoku is now eligible for selection following the clearance of his work permit, adding depth to the attacking options. The hosts will miss Kadeem Harris long-term after his ACL rupture against Fleetwood, though Ollie Wright pushes for a recall having missed the season’s opening three games. Armani Little and Ethan Coleman remain sidelined, and the availability of Sam Tabares and Bradley Dack is uncertain, though Lamin Sillah may debut after his Thursday loan signing from Nottingham Forest. Gareth Ainsworth acknowledged the challenge, stating his side must be confident to beat a League One-calibre Northampton outfit, having worked on specific tactical preparations during the week. Chris Hogg echoed the sentiment, describing the fixture as a tough physical test and expressing eagerness to face a manager he has encountered frequently, praising Ainsworth’s character while emphasizing the need for his team to simply be themselves and maintain performance levels. The historical record shows Northampton leading the head-to-head with 55 wins to Gillingham’s 41 across all competitions, with 20 draws, though the Gills last won at Priestfield in November 2016 with a second-half comeback featuring goals from Jay Emmanuel-Thomas and Max Ehmer. Both clubs currently sit with two points each, Northampton in 18th and Gillingham in 21st, having failed to score in their opening two League Two fixtures of the 2026-27 campaign, a rarity last seen for the Gills in 2017-18 and for Northampton in 2001-02. The match is the 118th meeting between the sides, tracing the rivalry back to a 5-2 Cobblers victory in Division Three in 1920, and recalled Will Hondermarck’s late strike securing a 2-1 win for Northampton at Sixfields in April 2023. Referee Elliott Swallow will take charge, assisted by Karl Sear and Paul Kelly, with Greg Read as fourth official. Fans can follow live audio Radio Northampton and iFollow, with overseas supporters also able to stream through iFollow, and tickets remain available through the club office until noon on Friday. Looking ahead, Northampton Town turn their focus to the home fixture against Crawley Town on September 1, 2026, a match that could prove vital in their effort to close the five-point gap to league leaders Barnet, and supporters can check upcoming dates on our fixtures page or review squad details on our squad hub.