Eurosport - Fri, 14 Aug 18:01:00 2009
Team news ahead of the weekend's League Two clashes with striker Jack Lester set to return for Chesterfield's home game against Northampton.
Accrington v Lincoln
Accrington boss John Coleman has a fully-fit squad at his disposal for the clash with Lincoln. Stanley came from behind to spring a surprise against Walsall in the Carling Cup night, winning 2-1 to set up a second-round tie against Queens Park Rangers. Midfielder Bobby Grant is pushing for a starting berth after coming off the bench to score the equaliser against the Saddlers, but Coleman is unlikely to make many changes. Experienced striker Paul Mullin is expected to lead the line once again after scoring the winner against Chris Hutchings' side, with Billy Kee poised to start alongside him. Stanley will be determined to get up and running in League Two after suffering the disappointment of a last-gasp defeat at Rotherham on the opening day.
Lincoln captain Scott Kerr is back in contention along with young striker Lennel John-Lewis for the trip to Accrington. Midfielder Kerr missed the majority of the Imps' pre-season preparations with a knee injury so it remains to be seen whether boss Peter Jackson will opt to start with the 27-year-old at the Fraser Eagle Stadium. He and John-Lewis played for Lincoln's reserve-team in their win over Newark Town this week, Kerr played 45 minutes while hernia victim John-Lewis played just over an hour. On-loan Nottingham Forest full-back Joe Heath faces a late fitness test. He missed the midweek Carling Cup defeat to Barnsley after sustaining a knock in the win over Barnet on the opening day of the League Two season.
Barnet v Shrewsbury
Barnet are set to welcome Gary Breen back into the side for the visit of Shrewsbury. The 35-year-old player/assistant manager has missed the first two games of the campaign after picking up a knee problem in pre-season but is fit to start against the Shrews. That will see Dan Leach drop down to the bench but manager Ian Hendon has received some bad news over last season's top scorer John O'Flynn. The Irish forward had an MRI scan which revealed that the torn muscle in his right foot is not responding to treatment as quickly as expected. He could be out for several more weeks but Jake Hyde pushing for a start in attack as the Bees search for their first goal of the season. Veteran striker Paul Furlong, 40, played the full 120 minutes of the Carling Cup defeat to Watford and may be rested.
Paul Simpson admits there are a few bumps and bruises within his Shrewsbury squad but he does not expect any new absentees ahead of the trip to Barnet. Shrews almost pulled off a Carling Cup upset in midweek as they took Championship side Ipswich to penalties following a 3-3 draw but, despite the agony of defeat after 120 minutes of football, Simpson expects to take an upbeat squad to Underhill. Midfielder Steve Leslie finally returns to action after serving a three-match suspension that stretched back to last season, while goalkeeper Glyn Garner has also returned to full training. Defender Mike Jackson is making progress after sustaining bruising to the bone but he is not quite ready, while midfielder Lewis Neal (ankle) is looking at a return to reserve action towards the end of the month.
Bournemouth v Rotherham
Veteran striker Steve Fletcher is expected to be recalled to Bournemouth's starting line-up for the home clash with Rotherham. The 37-year-old came on as a half-time substitute in the Carling Cup defeat at Millwall in midweek, after boss Eddie Howe revealed he would not name him in the starting line-up three times in a week. Jeff Goulding looks certain to make way for Fletcher against the Millers after failing to make an impact in the 4-0 thrashing by the Lions. Midfielder Joe Partington returns to the squad to face Mark Robins' promotion-hopefuls, but skipper Shaun Cooper (hip) and midfielder Danny Hollands (knee) remain sidelined. Defender Ryan Garry is expected to keep his place in the starting line-up as Scott Guyett works his way back to full fitness.
New signing Adam Le Fondre may have to settle for place on the substitutes bench when Rotherham make the long journey to Bournemouth. The striker joined the Millers from League Two rivals Rochdale and immediately watched on as his new team-mates beat Derby in the Carling Cup. Paul Warne was on target for the second time in as many games against the Rams and the veteran striker is likely to get the nod to partner Tom Pope in attack. Fellow forward Drewe Broughton will miss out once again as he continues his recovery from a broken toe. Boss Mark Robins is likely to stick with the same side that were so impressive in coming from behind to beat Nigel Clough's side 2-1 at the Don Valley Stadium.
Bradford v Port Vale
Bradford will be without suspended defender Jonathan Bateson for their opening home league clash of the season. Bateson, a free summer signing following his release from Blackburn, was sent off for violent conduct in the midweek Carling Cup defeat at Nottingham Forest after his horror tackle on Nathan Tyson. Manager Stuart McCall was without Bateson's fellow defender Matt Clarke in midweek due to a groin strain and if he fails to make it Steve Williams can be expected to start. Summer signing Steve O'Leary has missed the first two games with a foot injury, while Chris Brandon and Peter Thorne, dropped to the substitutes' bench after the 5-0 defeat at Notts County on the opening day, could both return.
Port Vale boss Micky Adams is expected to field a similar side at Bradford to the one that saw off Sheffield United in midweek. Vale will be in buoyant mood for the trip to Valley Parade as they look to extend their unbeaten run to the opening three games of the campaign following their Carling Cup triumph. Young forward James Lawrie missed out at Bramall Lane due to his international commitments with Northern Ireland's U21s but he should return to the fold. Captain Tommy Fraser made his first competitive start for the club against the Blades following ankle ligament damage and he is expected to continue in the middle of the park. Goalkeeper Joe Anyon remains sidelined with a broken leg. Danny Glover and Luke Prosser have joined Salisbury on a month-long loan deal and, with Ross Davidson at Stafford Rangers, that just leaves Danny Edwards, Steve Thompson and David Howland out of the initial quintet made available for loan or permanent transfer by Adams.
Burton v Morecambe
Burton will be boosted by the return of striker Shaun Harrad and midfielder Robin Shroot for the club's first home game in the Football League. Harrad returns from a three-game ban which was carried over from last season and Shroot, on loan from Birmingham, returns from international duty with the Northern Ireland U21 squad. Full-back Aaron Webster is still struggling with a calf problem and both midfielders Keith Gilroy and Marc Goodfellow also miss out through injury. Manager Paul Peschisolido must decide whether to leave Greg Pearson up front alongside Richard Walker or recall Jimmy Phillips to his starting line-up. Teenager Phillips stepped off the substitutes' bench in the 5-1 midweek Carling Cup defeat at Reading to score Albion's only goal, while Pearson scored the club's first Football League goal in the 3-1 League Two defeat at Shrewsbury.
Morecambe boss Sammy McIlroy has lost midfielder Fraser McLachlan to a serious injury ahead of the trip to Burton. McLachlan twisted his knee in the opening-day 2-2 draw against Hereford and had to be substituted after just 12 minutes. A scan has revealed ligament damage and luckless McLachlan is set for a long spell on the sidelines. Skipper Jim Bentley makes a welcome return from a shoulder injury but Wayne Curtis (knee) and Garry Hunter (groin) could miss out again. On-loan Huddersfield striker Phil Jevons is hoping to shake off a bout of flu which ruled him out of the Carling Cup defeat at Preston in midweek.
Chesterfield v Northampton
Lester (pictured centre) looks certain to spearhead Chesterfield's attack in John Sheridan's first home game as manager. Lester, who has scored 50 goals for the Blues since moving to Saltergate from Nottingham Forest in the summer of 2007, missed the opening-day defeat to Torquay and the Carling Cup exit at Scunthorpe through a suspension carried over from last season. Dan Gray could be a doubt after being replaced by Phil Picken after half-an-hour at Scunthorpe in midweek. Fellow defenders Alan Goodall (ankle) and Gregor Robertson (hip) have yet to play this season, they are progressing well but Saturday could come too soon.
Northampton manager Stuart Gray is facing a chronic lack of midfield options as he prepares his side for the trip to face Chesterfield. Gray saw his side lose 2-0 at his former club Southampton and witnessed midfielders Ryan Gilligan and Abdul Osman both pick up knocks which have put their participation at Saltergate in doubt. Gray is already without Luke Guttridge (knee) and Liam Davis (foot) so former Manchester United full-back John Curtis is on preparing to deputise in midfield if required. The Cobblers have sent unsettled left-back Danny Jackman for a scan on his knee injury while Gary Mulligan (ankle) remains sidelined. Gray's side have yet to score in 180 minutes of action so far this season but should have first-choice pairing Adebayo Akinfenwa and Steve Guinan in attack at Saltergate.
Dagenham v Torquay
Dagenham manager John Still will name an unchanged squad for the visit of Torquay. Still saw his side turn in an impressive performance in the 3-1 Carling Cup defeat at Cardiff in midweek where striker Josh Scott scored on his debut for the club. Scott came off the bench at the new Cardiff City stadium but is pushing for a start against the Gulls and could partner Paul Benson in attack. Fellow forward Jon Nurse remains sidelined after he picked up an ankle injury during last weekend`s win at Crewe. Still remains without Mark Nwokeji who continues his eight-month lay-off with a cruciate knee ligament injury while defender Anwar Uddin has not trained since the first training session in July due to a bang on his leg.
Torquay wait on the fitness of skipper Chris Hargreaves and defender Lee Mansell ahead of the League Two trip to Dagenham. Veteran midfielder Hargreaves (calf) and Mansell (back) were ruled out of United's 2-1 Carling Cup knockout at Crystal Palace after featuring in the opening day win over Chesterfield, when Mansell was one of the scorers. In Hargreaves' absence, Tyrone Thompson was recalled in central midfield and he will be hoping to retain his place at heart of Paul Buckle's midfield. Mansell's place at right-back went to Chris Robertson, who was switched from the centre, allowing new signing Kieran Charnock to make his Gulls' debut and that is the way United should line up should Mansell fail to recover.
Sunderland loan pair Jamie Chandler and David Dowson are expected to make their first league starts for Darlington in their opening home game against Bury. Midfielder Chandler and striker Dowson, who arrived at the Darlington Arena last week, were both second-half substitutes in the opening-day defeat at Aldershot, but started against Leeds in the Carling Cup clash and made telling contributions. If manager Colin Todd opts for Dowson up front alongside Lee Thorpe, player/coach Dean Windass will start on the substitutes' bench again, while teenager Curtis Main, a second-half substitute against Leeds, provides the Quakers management duo with a further option up front. Todd has no new injury or suspension worries as his side look to register their first points of the season following successive defeats.
Bury manager Alan Knill will be without striker Danny Carlton after he suffered an Achilles injury in the Carling Cup 2-0 defeat to West Brom at Gigg Lane. He was replaced after 30 minutes and Knill fears the frontman could be set for several months on the sidelines. Carlton's loss is a massive blow to the Shakers as strikers Andy Bishop and Andy Morrell have yet to play this season as they recover from hernia operations. Both players are at least a week away from a return and Carlton's injury has added to Knill's woes, so Simon Johnson could start. On-loan West Brom midfielder David Worrall is available again after being ineligible to face his parent club in midweek.
Grimsby v Crewe
Grimsby keeper Nick Colgan has been ruled out of Town's first home game of the season against Crewe with a recurrence of the groin problem he suffered in the summer The Irish stopper, 35, aggravated the injury during the 4-0 Carling Cup defeat at Tranmere. Mariners manager Mike Newell has opted to bring in Southampton's Tommy Forecast as cover with only youngsters Leigh Overton and Edward Eley available as replacements. Meanwhile, Adrian Forbes is set to undergo knee surgery before the weekend after scans revealed a cartilage problem. The forward will be out for around a month.
On-loan midfielder Aman Verma could make his full Crewe debut if hip and groin problems continue to keep James Bailey sidelined. Bailey had to be withdrawn at half-time in the Carling Cup defeat to Blackpool and Alex are hoping the problem is not a repeat of the injury that ruled him out for most of the second half of last season. Verma replaced the 20-year-old against the Seasiders just 24 hours after arriving on loan from Leicester. Defender Danny O'Donnell remains a serious doubt with the hip problem that kept him out in midweek, but midfielder Joel Grant is expected to be fit despite taking a whack on a calf against Blackpool and Harry Worley has also joined on loan from Leicester. Goalkeeper David Button should recover from a knee injury to reclaim the number one jersey. Forwards Nathan Jarman (metatarsal) is also absent.
Hereford v Cheltenham
Hereford boast a full-strength squad as they prepare for the visit of Cheltenham. Striker Leon Constantine missed the headline-grabbing Carling Cup victory over Charlton due to the birth of his son but will return for the clash against the Robins. Midfielder Jamie Tolley was also absent in midweek after going down with flu-like symptoms but he has made a full recovery and is competiting for a place in John Trewick's matchday 18. Trewick made three changes against Charlton from the side that secured an opening-day draw at Morecambe - James McQuilkin, Richard Rose and Keith Lowe coming in for Constantine, Darren Dennehy and Darren Jones. And it remains to be seen how he will line up as his charges revert back to league action, with Trewick still searching for his first three points at the helm.
Cheltenham manager Martin Allen is expected to receive positive news on the injury front ahead of the short trip to rivals Hereford. Striker Elvis Hammond scored the opener in the 2-1 Carling Cup defeat to Southend before being forced off early in the second half after colliding with an advertising board, but he should be ready to feature. Winger David Hutton also went off injured late on against the Shrimpers after taking a heavy knock but is also expected to be available. Midfielder Oliver Bozanic missed out completely due to his international commitments with Australia but is now back with the Robins and should be in the frame at Edgar Street. Elsewhere, Allen has some selection dilemmas as he ponders whether to opt for Drissa Diallo or Michael Townsend at the heart of defence and Barry Hayles ahead of Justin Richards to partner Hammond in attack.
Macclesfield v Notts County
Macclesfield have allowed defender Matthew Flynn to join League Two rivals Rochdale on a month's loan ahead of the visit of Notts County. Flynn was a regular for the Silkmen last term but is currently out of the side and boss Keith Alexander is happy for him to head to Spotland. Alexander said: "He's not in the side at the moment and when the chance for some first-team football came along he needed to take it. It will really benefit him to get some first-team matches under his belt." Striker Emile Sinclair missed the 2-0 defeat to Leicester in the first round of the Carling Cup with a dead leg and may remain sidelined. Nat Brown (shin) and club captain Sean Hessey (knee) could also miss out again.
Ben Davies remains an injury doubt for Notts County's trip to Macclesfield. The summer signing from Shrewsbury, who scored the Magpies' first goal of the new season in last weekend's 5-0 rout of Bradford, missed the Carling Cup defeat to Doncaster after a groin problem forced him off at half-time against the Bantams. The midfielder has not trained all week and boss Ian McParland said: "I am not sure how he is going to be for Saturday, we will know nearer the time." Defender Graeme Lee is also still nursing a groin injury. McParland has revealed that he will need a minor operation to resolve the problem but believes the 31-year-old is still able to play.
Rochdale v Aldershot
Rochdale boss Keith Hill could hand a debut to on-loan Macclesfield defender Matthew Flynn when his side host Aldershot at Spotland. Flynn was a regular for the Silkmen last term but is currently out of the side and boss Keith Alexander is happy for him to head to Spotland for a month. Flynn`s arrival is a boost to Dale as defender Rory McArdle is out for the first two months of the season with a shoulder injury, while midfielder Ciaran Toner could remain sidelined with a dead leg. And striker Adam Le Fondre, 22, this week signed a three-year contract with rivals Rotherham, joining the club for an undisclosed fee. He subsequently missed Dale's 3-0 defeat at Sheffield Wednesday in the first round of the Carling Cup in midweek but Scott Spencer has signed a one-month deal to try and fill the gap. Scott Wiseman also missed the Hillsborough reverse due to illness and will be assessed.
Aldershot boss Gary Waddock is waiting on the fitness of defender Ben Herd before naming his squad. Right-back Herd missed the midweek Carling Cup defeat at Bristol Rovers after picking up a knee injury. Should he not make it then Lewis Chalmers will continue to fill in at the back. Waddock must also decide who to play in goal at Spotland. Mikhael Jaimez-Ruiz started the 3-1 win over Darlington last weekend but Waddock opted to give Clark Masters a debut against Rovers and he impressed by saving a penalty. Left-back Dean Howell is recovering from a hip operation and is expected to be out of action for several more weeks while Anthony Charles remains sidelined with a slight knee problem.
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