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Dagenham have been boosted by the news defender Jon Boardman has shaken off a groin injury in time for the trip to Mansfield on Saturday after he came through a behind-closed-doors friendly against Southend unscathed in. Defender Magnus Okuonghae is still out with the groin injury he picked up during the warm-up to the recent 1-0 defeat at Notts County, while midfielder Richard Graham is sidelined with a hamstring injury. Striker Jon Nurse is also unavailable because of a hamstring problem, meaning Ben Strevens and Chris Moore are likely to continue their partnership up front.

Mansfield boss Billy Dearden has been handed a timely boost with the news that influential defender Alex John-Baptiste is set to return. John-Baptiste has been out since the middle of August with a nagging back injury but is back in contention to face the Daggers. His return is particularly handy as fellow centre-half Martin McIntosh is ruled out with a hamstring injury he picked up 17 minutes into last weekend's 1-0 defeat at Accrington Stanley. Midfielder Lee Bell returns from a four-match ban and Jake Buxton is also back from a one-game suspension of his own. Simon Brown is pushing for a first start of the season after making his return from an ankle injury as a second-half substitute against Stanley. Fellow midfielder Jonathan D'Laryea remains some weeks away from an ankle injury of his own.

Loanee Robbie Garrett is expected to go straight into the Wrexham team to face Lincoln after joining on loan from Stoke. Meanwhile, boss Brian Carey has a number of injury problems to contend with for the clash. Midfielder Silvio Spann (ankle) limped off in last weekend's defeat at Stockport and is likely to be ruled out along with Ryan Valentine (groin), Mike Williams (back), Eifion Williams (calf) and Conall Murtagh. Neil Taylor has recovered from a slight niggle that saw him substituted last weekend, but strikers Chris Llewellyn and Michael Proctor remain suspended.

Lincoln boss John Schofield once again has a fully fit squad at his disposal. Schofield may be tempted to switch back to the 4-3-3 formation he used earlier in the season in pursuit of a return to winning ways. Jamie Forrester grabbed his first goal of the season in last Saturday's 2-1 defeat to bitter rivals Grimsby and will again lead the line, with Mark Stallard poised for a recall alongside him in place of Steve Torpey.

Ian Craney goes straight into the Accrington's squad for the trip to derby rivals Bury. The Swansea midfielder has rejoined his former club on a three-month loan deal in a bid to play more regular first-team football. Striker Leighton McGivern has completed a three-match suspension after being sent-off playing for the reserves.

Bury striker Andy Mangan is hoping to be passed fit to face his former club in the Lancashire derby clash. The 21-year-old, who spent two seasons at Stanley, underwent a scan on a potential hernia problem on Wednesday afternoon. Boss Chris Casper has said the striker is still in contention, though it is not yet known whether the injury will need an operation or whether it can be managed by the club. Mangan is desperate to face the club for whom he made over 80 appearances before moving to Gigg Lane in the summer on a free transfer. Aside from the absence of goalkeeper Aaron Grundy (ankle), the Shakers should have no other concerns as they seek their first home win of 2007.

Barnet captain Ismail Yakubu is expected to be fit for the visit of Rotherham on Saturday despite picking up a calf injury last weekend. Left-back Kenny Gillet is out while long-term absentee Michael Leary is still not ready for a return to action. Gillet suffered a fractured metatarsal in the clash at Saltergate and could be out for up to two months, while knee-injury victim Leary has targeted a return to action in November.

Rotherham could be boosted by the return of powerful defender Ian Sharps for their trip to Underhill. Sharps has been out of action since picking up a hamstring injury against Mansfield in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy earlier this month. Mark Hudson, still awaiting his Rotherham debut, remains two weeks away from match fitness. Ryan Taylor and Pablo Mills will play no part having been loaned out to non-league sides.

Alex Rhodes could return to Bradford's line-up for the visit of Wycombe after missing the last six matches due to a hamstring injury. Bradford boss Stuart McCall has no other new injury or suspension worries and will pick from the same squad that travelled to Hereford last week. Former Norwich striker Peter Thorne sustained a gashed ankle in the 4-2 defeat to the Bulls, but is expected to prove his fitness and line up alongside Guylain Ndumbu-Nsungu, whose two goals took his tally to four for the season.

Wycombe are without both their senior goalkeepers ahead of their trip to Yorkshire. Jamie Young suffered a torn hamstring during Saturday's 1-1 draw with Shrewsbury and faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines. And Young's replacement, Scott Shearer, broke his ankle in training on Thursday and will also be out for some time.

Defender Sam Stockley sustained a calf strain against the Shrews and faces a late fitness check along with midfielder Gary Holt, who has been carrying a slight thigh injury. Midfielder Matt Bloomfield is fit again after a thigh problem and could start if manager Paul Lambert opts to drop Sergio Torres to the bench. Will Antwi (groin) is still on the comeback trail and fellow centre-half Mike Williamson (knee) is out until Christmas.

Brentford boss Terry Butcher has no fresh injury or suspension worries for his side's clash with Stockport at Griffin Park. The Bees will once again be without defenders Matthew Heywood and Grant Basey and midfielder John Mousinho, all of whom missed last weekend's 2-0 win over Chester. The ever-present Adrian Pettigrew, on loan from Chelsea, is likely to continue alongside captain John Mackie in the centre of defence, with Darius Charles, recently recalled from a loan spell at Sutton United, at full-back.

Stockport boss Jim Gannon is again missing a clutch of players for the trip to the capital. Striker Anthony Pilkington recently collided with on-loan Leicester goalkeeper Conrad Logan in training and could be out for up to five weeks after damaging ankle ligaments. Chris Adamson is still out and defenders Rob Clare and Michael Rose are still around a month away from full fitness

Chester youngster Kevin Roberts is almost certain to be ruled out of the trip to Macclesfield. The 18-year-old midfielder - a regular member of City's first-team squad this season - sustained an ankle injury during Wednesday's 4-2 reserve team victory at Carlisle and he could join James Vaughan and Chris Holroyd on the sidelines at Moss Rose.

Williamson must decide whether to recall Paul Linwood or keep faith with Paul Bolland in the centre of defence against The Silkmen, while striker John Murphy is a definite starter against his former club. Macclesfield boss Ian Brightwell is again missing a trio of long-term absentees. Nick Blackman (knee cartilage), Andrew Teague (leg) and Jamie Tolley (wrist) all remain sidelined but Brightwell should be able to boast an otherwise full-strength squad.

MK Dons captain Keith Andrews will start against Morecambe despite being knocked out in last weekend's dramatic win over Darlington. Andrews was knocked unconscious by a kick to the head late on in the 1-0 win over the Quakers but has been passed fit to take his place in an unchanged side. Colin Cameron is set to miss out again with an ankle injury while winger Mark Wright could return to the squad after restarting training following his foot injury. Strikers Kevin Gallen (groin) and Scott Taylor (knee) are both out but Drewe Broughton (ankle) has resumed training and could make the squad.

Striker Wayne Curtis is still missing with a chest injury for Morecambe, while midfielder Fraser McLachlan continues to recover from a broken leg. McIlroy is unlikely to make any changes despite the Shrimps' 5-0 Carling Cup mauling by Sheffield United in the week, although Michael Twiss could be pushed further up the field to partner Matty Blinkhorn up front. Morecambe have made a solid start to life in League Two, and lie 14th with nine points from their first seven games.

Rochdale boss Keith Hill will be without striker Chris Dagnall for the trip to in-form Shrewsbury after he suffered a knee injury last weekend. Adam Le Fondre will slot straight in alongside Glenn Murray as Hill's misfiring team search for a win to kick-start their season at the New Meadow. On-loan Oldham defender Kelvin Lomax will continue at right-back as Hill still has four injury concerns among his squad. Gary Brown (knee), Nathan Stanton (knee), Nathan D'Laryea (knee) and Simon Ramsden (calf) are all still out of action.

Shrewsbury boss Gary Peters looks likely to be without Darren Moss who injured his ankle in the midweek reserve match against Oldham. Andy Cooke and Ben Davies both remain sidelined for the immediate future with hamstring and Achilles problems respectively. Defender Luke Jones is also out of the clash at the New Meadow and will need to build up his match fitness before making his return to first-team action.

Notts County boss Steve Thompson will be without Jay Smith (groin) for the visit of Chesterfield, but Spencer Weir-Daley should be fit after recovering from a hip injury. Defender Mike Edwards remains sidelined until the New Year, while new signing Michael Byron is two or three weeks away from a return to action.

Myles Weston has returned to training follow his hamstring injury, but is expected to miss out again. Chesterfield manager Lee Richardson has no new injury problems to contend with but he has hinted he may ring the changes. Richardson was disappointed by the Spireites' 1-0 defeat at home to Barnet last time out but has yet to decide on his team selection. Long-term injury victims Jamie Ward and Adam Smith are still sidelined, while Nicky Travis is making good progress in his return from an ankle injury but will not feature.

Hereford are at full strength as they look to record their second successive win at Grimsby. Boss Graham Turner's main selection dilemma comes in defence where he must decide whether or not to reinstate Trent McClenahan. The Australian was left out of the squad for the 4-2 win over Bradford last weekend after losing his place while on international duty.

Grimsby manager Alan Buckley will be without midfielder James Hunt after the former Oxford midfielder suffered a badly bruised knee during last weekend's victory over local rivals Lincoln. Jamie Clarke is on standby to replace Hunt in midfield, although Buckley could choose to play two strikers at home with Gary Jones or Peter Bore possibly playing alongside Isaiah Rankin. Fellow forward Andy Taylor has declared himself fit to start after recovering from his ankle injury but defender Ryan Bennett is doubtful.

Darlington are set to be without Neil Austin once again for the visit of Peterborough. The former Barnsley defender missed the defeat by MK Dons last weekend with an ankle injury and is a major doubt. However, skipper Clark Keltie should retain his place on the bench after recovering from a summer hernia operation to come on for the last three minutes against the Dons. Fellow midfielder Kevin McBride has recovered from a knee problem, but striker Martin Smith is a long-term absentee with his knee injury. The Quakers are still top of League Two despite losing their unbeaten record last weekend.

Peterborough new-boy Sol Davis has suffered a training-ground injury ahead of his anticipated debut. The on-loan Luton defender, who signed this week to cover an injury crisis at left-back, has suffered a groin strain and faces a late fitness test. Regular left-back Shane Blackett is still out for some time with a knee injury and Josh Low is sidelined with a pulled hamstring. Danny Crow is out with a calf strain but fellow striker Aaron McLean has shaken off a groin strain and could be partnered by Craig Mackail-Smith for the first time this season following his hip-related problem. Winger Chris Whelpdale is fit despite suffering an ankle knock, and centre-half Chris Westwood returns from a hamstring injury.

RM / Sporting Life / Eurosport