Rate it!

0 votes

Managerless Gillingham hope to have first-choice goalkeeper Simon Royce available as Leeds visit Priestfield in search of their eighth successive League One win. Royce missed last weekend's 4-0 demolition at Nottingham Forest with a back injury but he has returned to training and coach Iffy Onoura is hopeful he will be able to replace Derek Stillie.

Striker Gary Mulligan is also back in contention after his long-standing ankle complaint caused him to miss the Forest game and could return alongside Delroy Facey as the Gills switch back to 4-4-2. But midfielder Mark Bentley will definitely miss out after lasting just 40 minutes of the City Ground capitulation with an ankle injury.

Leeds skipper Alan Thompson could return to the starting line-up as United look to break a club record in Kent by winning a seventh match on the bounce. Tore Andre Flo is fit again after making a late appearance from the bench in last week's win over Swansea, but Jermaine Beckford and Tresor Kandol will start up front again having scored 11 goals between them this season.

Cheltenham defender Shane Duff is likely to return from a calf injury for the Robins' trip to Doncaster. Steven Gillespie remains absent with the hip injury he sustained at Huddersfield and the striker is also a doubt for Tuesday's trip to Port Vale. Long-term injury victim Scott Brown is continuing to make good progress in his recovery from a broken leg.

Doncaster manager Sean O'Driscoll will be without Gordon Greer (broken wrist) and Martin Woods (hamstring). Skipper Graeme Lee has been dealt another blow after being sidelined this season due to a mystery neck injury. Lee was edging towards a return, but suffered a knee injury in training and is now awaiting the results of a scan.

Crewe could be boosted by the return of defender Daniel O'Donnell from a hamstring problem for the clash at Oldham. Technical director Dario Gradi said: "If Danny can prove his fitness and that he is fully over his injury then he will go straight back into the team."

Meanwhile, defender Julien Baudet remains sidelined with a calf problem sustained during his recovery from a separate hamstring injury.

Lee Hughes is expected to start on the substitutes' bench again for Oldham after both Craig Davies and Michael Ricketts scored in last weekend's 3-0 win at Walsall. Sheridan has no new injury or suspension worries and could name the same starting line-up.

Midfielder Neil Kilkenny could return to the squad after missing the last five matches due to a thigh injury, but he is not expected to start. Stefan Stam (hamstring), Deane Smalley (knee), Lewis Alessandra (broken foot) and Les Pogliacomi (knee) are all long-term absentees.

New signing Ronnie Wallwork could go straight into Huddersfield's starting line-up for the visit of Luton. Central defender David Mirfin should return after missing last week's 3-0 defeat at Northampton due to a back problem. But midfielder Michael Collins, who has not trained due to the virus that has swept through the Galpharm Stadium, is doubtful and although Danny Schofield (ankle) has returned to training, he too is unlikely to feature.

On-loan defender Richard Keogh, winger Malvin Kamara, strikers Luke Beckett and Lucas Akins, goalkeeper Matt Glennon and defender Danny Racchi have all been laid low by the illness, but are expected to be included in the squad.

However, skipper Jon Worthington (stomach), defenders Tom Clarke (cruciate ligament) and Robbie Williams (shin fracture) remain sidelined.

New signing Ben Alnwick is set to go straight into the Luton squad for the trip to Yorkshire. The 20-year-old goalkeeper joined the Hatters on a three-month loan deal from Tottenham on Thursday to provide competition for Dean Brill after another on-loan stopper, David Forde, returned to Cardiff.

Midfielder Dave Edwards is boss Kevin Blackwell's only fresh injury doubt with a virus and his condition will be assessed before the squad is announced. Fellow midfielders Don Hutchison (knee) and Keith Keane (leg) are still not ready for a return to first-team action after missing last weekend's 2-1 win over Port Vale and the midweek Carling Cup victory over Charlton.

Long-term absentee Paul Underwood, who is suffering from a blood infection, is also unavailable.

Brighton strikers Bas Savage and Nicky Forster are expected to be passed fit for the trip to Swansea. Savage picked up injuries to both his ankle and shoulder against Yeovil last Saturday, while Forster is struggling with a neck problem at the beginning of the week.

Versatile defender Adam El-Abd is also back in training after an X-ray showed up no serious damage to his ankle. Centre-half Adam Hinshelwood, who recently returned from cruciate-ligament damage, has had fluid drained from the injured knee and will not travel. Midfielder Paul Reid (groin) and defender Joel Lynch (leg) are also on the mend but will not figure.

Swansea striker Darryl Duffy has joined Leon Britton and Andy Robinson (both hamstring) in the treatment room with a groin strain and will be replaced by Warren Feeney.

Long-term absentees Darren Way (shin) and Owain Tudur-Jones (knee) are back in action for the reserves but need to build up their match fitness, and defender Alan Tate (knee) is still missing.

Zak Whitbread will miss Millwall's game with Swindon after picking up a knee injury. Boss Willie Donachie is hopeful Danny Senda will return from a muscle strain to take his place at full-back, while Neil Harris is in contention to return from the groin injury which kept him out of last weekend's draw with Crewe.

Swindon boss Paul Sturrock has no fresh injury or suspension problems as the Robins look to record back-to-back wins for the first time this season. Town captain Aljofree is expected to remain sidelined for the next five weeks with the injury he sustained at Hartlepool a fortnight ago. Steve Adams (knee) is available again while Peter Brezovan will be included in the squad after returning from his two-day trial with Everton. Defenders Aidy Williams (knee) and Andy Nicholas (ankle) and striker Barry Corr (back) are still ruled out.

Captain Paul Thirlwell is still missing for Carlisle ahead of the game with Bournemouth due to a calf injury. Caretaker boss Greg Abbott is weighing up bringing in Simon Hackney for Jeff Smith on the left wing, while on-loan Joe Anyinsah (stomach bug) could be drafted in on the right. Ged Dalton is still around a fortnight away from a return with a knee injury and Chelsea teenager's Harry Worley's loan deal expires after the trip.

Josh Gowling has eased Bournemouth's crippling injury crisis by declaring himself available to play after missing last weekend's 4-1 drubbing by Swindon after turning his ankle in training. However, fellow defenders Warren Cummings (broken arm), Ryan Garry (shin) and Russ Perrett (hamstring) remain sidelined. Jean Christophe has become the Cherries' latest casualty, the on-loan Portsmouth midfielder suffered a badly-sprained wrist during a reserve match on Tuesday. On-loan Burnley midfielder Garreth O'Connor is on the comeback trail following his thigh strain while Neil Moss and Max Gradel are also back in training.

Southend welcome back midfielder Mark Gower for their trip to managerless Port Vale. The former Tottenham trainee missed the midweek Carling Cup exit at Blackpool due to a back injury, but he has returned to training and will be fit to travel. In-form striker Leon Clarke will also return to the squad, the on-loan Sheffield Wednesday man having been cup-tied on Tuesday night after hitting three goals in three games since joining the Shrimpers. Left-back Steven Hammell is on his way back from a pre-season ankle injury, and young forward Charles Ademeno is continuing his rehabilitation following knee surgery.

Port Vale caretaker manager Dean Glover will be without experienced defender Ashley Westwood for his first game in charge. The former Sheffield Wednesday man was sent off in last weekend's 2-1 defeat at Luton for foul and abusive language and starts a three-match ban as Vale begin life without Martin Foyle. On-loan Wolves defender Keith Lowe is still sidelined with a groin injury so former Leyton Orient man Justin Miller is poised to start alongside captain George Pilkington.

Yeovil skipper Terry Skiverton will keep his place at the back against Nottingham Forest. Skiverton has recovered from the groin injury which has sidelined him from the start of the season and made his first start in the 2-1 League One win at Brighton last weekend. Matt Rose (ankle) is ruled out, meaning Terrell Forbes has switched to right-back and Skiverton started in his regular centre back spot. The Glovers are poised to hand home debuts to new loan signings Romain Larrieu and Simon Gillett. Marvin Williams is to have ankle surgery which will rule him out for up to three months.

Luke Chambers is a doubt for Nottingham's Forest with a knee injury, James Perch on standby should he be needed. Forest are also waiting to discover the extent of Matt Lockwood's ankle injury after he fell awkwardly during the club's midweek reserve win over Walsall. Arron Davies, who joined from the Glovers during the summer, is definitely ruled out with an ankle injury. And another ex-Yeovil player Chris Cohen will also be desperate to feature as Forest go in search of revenge for their play-off semi-final defeat back in May.

Walsall will again be without Ian Roper but new signing Dwayne Mattis is in the squad for Saturday's tough trip to high-flying Hartlepool. Veteran defender Roper, who has only recently recovered from a blow to the head sustained against Millwall a fortnight ago, is sidelined by a viral infection. But midfielder Mattis is in line for an immediate debut after joining on loan from Barnsley. Defender Paul Boertien remains out with a knee injury picked up in training, while striker Carlos Carneiro is still suffering with a shoulder problem. Allan Picken also looks doubtful with a knee injury as the Saddlers look to move off the foot of the League One table.

Hartlepool midfielder Antony Sweeney has returned to training but is unlikely to be fit. Sweeney has been sidelined by a hamstring injury suffered in the first half of Pools' 4-1 win against Oldham at the start of the month but is now edging closer to a return. Willie Boland returned to the starting line-up at Leyton Orient last weekend following a hamstring problem of his own and lasted 83 minutes before being substituted. The midfielder was struggling with cramp but will be fit to start against the Saddlers, who pipped Danny Wilson's side for the League Two title last season. Michael Nelson is expected to continue at the heart of defence after overcoming an ankle injury to start the impressive 4-2 win at Brisbane Road.

Tranmere duo Danny Coyne and Calvin Zola face late fitness tests ahead of the visit of League One rivals Northampton. Goalkeeper Coyne is struggling with a calf strain and striker Zola is nursing a hamstring strain. John Achterberg will keep his place if Coyne is ruled out, while Moore is also without midfielder John Mullin as he continues to struggle with an ankle problem.

Northampton manager Stuart Gray will hand a late fitness test to on-loan midfielder Alex Russell (thigh). Left-back Danny Jackman remains 10 days away from a return after his medial ligament injury while on-loan Wolves man Daniel Jones is also still sidelined with a knee injury of his own. Midfielder Giles Coke has returned to light training after his knee surgery in January but will be monitored closely before making a return.

Striker Jabo Ibehre could make his first appearance of the season when Leyton Orient travel to Bristol Rovers on Saturday. Ibehre scored twice for the reserves in midweek and could come in as manager Martin Ling looks for an instant response from his side after last weekend's 4-2 loss at home to Hartlepool. Skipper Stephen Purches is also in contention for a place after coming through the reserve game unscathed after a hamstring injury. Fellow defender Clayton Fortune, who is yet to feature this term, is out after aggravating a shoulder problem in the same match. Defender Brian Saah and striker Raphael Sylvester (both hamstring) are out.

Defender Aaron Lescott remains Bristol Rovers' main concern after not featuring since picking up a knee injury in the clash with Nottingham Forest, but he is expected to resume full training on Monday. David Pipe will challenge Sammy Igoe for a place in midfield while youngster Josh Klein-Davies sits out through suspension. Andy Williams is pushing Rickie Lambert for a place in attack after impressing as a sub against Carlisle last weekend.

RM / Sporting Life / Eurosport