Cheltenham Town striker Paul Connor could have been turning out for Northampton Town against Stockport County on Saturday if he had been fully fit.

The striker almost left the Robins to join the Cobblers as part of the deal that saw Leon Constantine move in the opposite direction.

But a dead leg picked up in the 2-0 win over Hartlepool United left him doubtful for the weekend and Northampton moved quickly to bring in Scott Vernon from Colchester United.

Vernon enjoyed a goalscoring debut for his new club, while Connor failed a fitness test and was forced to watch Cheltenham's 2-2 draw at Huddersfield Town from the stands.

"I could have gone to Northampton with Leon coming this way, but I was struggling for Saturday and that was it," Connor said.

"They needed someone to come in straight away so it doesn't look like anything will be happening at the minute so I will have to stay and battle for my place here."

Connor returned to full training yesterday, putting him in contention for tonight's home match against Oldham Athletic.

With forward pairing Constantine and Elvis Hammond both on target at the Galpharm Stadium, Connor is likely to have to settle for a place on the bench, unless he is used in midfield.

He started at Millwall in the centre of midfield and has also played out wide at times this season.

"With the injuries we picked up on Saturday, playing in midfield did go through my mind over the weekend," Connor said.

"But the lad (Frankie Artus) has come in on loan and trained well, so he could be a good addition.

"A lot of the lads have played in different positions this season and it can only be good for you."

Connor scored in the dramatic 2-1 victory over Doncaster Rovers that secured League One football for Cheltenham on the final day of last season, but has scored only once this term, in the 2-1 home defeat by Scunthorpe United last October.

"It's been a stop-start season for me and it has been frustrating, but I will keep going as I always do," he said.

"If we can go on a good run and go into the last game in the same position (as last season), it'd be great.

"It's a big ask, but six wins could do it.

"Hopefully other clubs can hit a brick wall like we did a few weeks ago and if they do, who knows what could happen?"

Artus, signed on loan from Bristol City, is likely to start in the centre of midfield alongside Andy Gallinagh, with Marley Watkins and Nicholas Bignall on the wings.

Fit-again Alan Wright is set to come in for injured left-back Lee Ridley, but Reading loan winger Michail Antonio is not expected to link up with the Robins again until Thursday and Shane Duff is also out.

Allen was hoping to include exciting young midfielder midfielder Jamie Edge in the squad – but the Churchdown School pupil was not 15 until after September 1 last year making him ineligible to play in the league until next season.

Cheltenham have had interest in Edge from a top-flight club as well as a Championship outfit, but he has committed to a two-year scholarship with the Robins, which will start in 2010.

Cheltenham Town (from): Brown, Lindegaard, Wright, Diallo, Townsend, Watkins, Gallinagh, Artus, Durrant, Bignall, Connor, Hammond, Constantine, Puddy, Lee, Haynes.