League One - Team news: Devaney set for Dons debut

PA Sport - Fri, 30 Oct 17:45:00 2009

Team news ahead of the weekend's League One clashes, with Martin Devaney thrown straight into the MK Dons squad after his arrival on-loan from Barnsley.

FOOTBALL League One Martin Devaney, who joined MK Dons on loan - 0

Brighton v Hartlepool

Brighton strikers Glenn Murray and Craig Davies are available for the visit of Hartlepool. Murray returns after missing last weekend's 2-0 defeat by Oldham through suspension, and Davies is back from his loan spell with Yeovil.

The Seagulls are still short of numbers at the back, however, with centre-half Colin Hawkins (heel), left-backs Jim McNulty and Jake Wright (both ankle) and right-back Andrew Whing (hernia) still missing. Adam El-Abd will continue to deputise at left-back with on-loan Arsenal youngster Gavin Hoyte keeping his place on the right.

Goalkeeper Michel Kuipers's position has come under scrutiny this week, and the absence of back-up Graeme Smith from the reserve-team line-up in midweek suggests he may be about to get his chance. James Brown is expected to miss the clash.

Forward Brown suffered an ankle injury in last weekend's 1-0 win against Tranmere but it is a knock sustained in training which is likely to rule him out at the Withdean Stadium. Director of sport Chris Turner hopes he will be available for next weekend's FA Cup clash at home to Kettering.

Ben Clark made his comeback from hernia and groin problems in the reserves' 4-2 defeat at home to Rotherham on Wednesday and he could make the bench, as could Colin Larkin who has recovered from a groin injury.

However, assistant manager Colin West admitted fringe players such as Leon McSweeney and Jon-Andre Fredriksen did little to enhance their first-team claims in the second-string defeat.

He said: "There was an opportunity for some of the lads but they didn't really knock a door down."

Carlisle v Charlton

Carlisle manager Greg Abbott will check on the fitness of defender David Raven ahead of the visit of high-flying Charlton.

Raven has not played since the 4-2 win over Macclesfield in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy on October 6 because of a hip injury and he will be assessed ahead of the game.

Regardless of Raven's fitness, manager Greg Abbott may again opt to field a reshuffled back four against Phil Parkinson's men.

Ian Harte has been switched from the left-back slot to play at centre-half, while Richard Keogh has moved from the middle to play at right-back, with Evan Horwood playing on the left.

The move proved successful as United ended a seven-game winless run against Southend last weekend and Abbott could go with the same style against the Addicks.

Striker Richard Offiong (hamstring) is a doubt for the Cumbrians, while skipper Paul Thirlwell (Achilles) and teenager Simon Lakeland (knee) are out.

Charlton have moved to solve their defensive crisis by signing Elliott Omosuzi on a short-term deal. Manager Phil Parkinson brought in Omosuzi after regular right-backs Frazer Richardson and Chris Solly both suffered injuries.

Parkinson must choose between goalkeepers Carl Ikeme and Darren Randolph. Parkinson drafted in Ikeme on a month's loan from Wolves after he learned regular number one Rob Elliot was ruled out for six weeks with an abductor muscle injury, and he may get the nod ahead of reserve keeper Randolph.

Parkinson also has problems at right-back with Frazer Richardson a doubt after suffering a thigh strain at Gillingham last weekend. Richardson's natural replacement would be youngster Chris Solly, but he sustained a knee injury in training and could be sidelined for up to three months.

Therefore left-back Kelly Youga, centre-half Christian Dailly or midfielder Jose Semedo could be asked to fill in. Midfielder Dean Sinclair (knee) and striker Leon McKenzie (thigh) are still absent, but Parkinson is considering a recall for teenage forward Jonjo Shelvey.

Exeter v Brentford

Exeter are set to welcome back defender Danny Seaborne and midfielder Ryan Harley for the visit of Brentford. The pair have recovered from illness and injury respectively that ruled them out of last weekend's 1-1 home draw with Wycombe.

Right-back Richard Duffy is hoping to earn a recall after missing the Wycombe game while serving a one-match ban after his dismissal for two cautions in the 3-0 defeat at Walsall.

Striker Ben Watson is desperate for a place in the match-day 16 after scoring seven goals in six reserve-team appearances, while midfielder Liam Sercombe could be promoted to the starting line-up after impressing against Plymouth reserves on Tuesday.

Goalkeeper Paul Jones is still sidelined by a knee injury that could keep him out until the beginning of December.

Brentford look set to be without goalkeeper Nikki Bull. Bull was forced to miss last weekend's 2-0 win over Stockport after suffering a shoulder injury in training on Friday, and he is unlikely to be risked just yet so Derby loanee Lewis Price should deputise again.

The Bees can welcome back midfielder Marcus Bean from a one-match ban, although he may have to settle for a place on the bench after David Hunt made a successful return from a foot injury last week.

Striker Ben Strevens could also be among the substitutes for the first time having recovered from the broken leg he suffered in pre-season. The summer signing from Dagenham has yet to make his Bees debut but has now come through three reserve games unscathed and should be in the squad.

Leeds v Yeovil

Leeds manager Simon Grayson is expected to name an unchanged starting line-up for his side's home clash with Yeovil. Grayson resisted from making any changes following Leeds' first defeat of the season at Millwall last weekend and his players responded with a 4-0 midweek win at Bristol Rovers to open up a four-point lead at the top of the table.

The Leeds boss will now want to reward those same players, so recent signing Max Gradel, on loan from Leicester, Jason Crowe, Neil Kilkenny and midweek goalscorer Tresor Kandol may all have to make do with a place on the substitutes' bench again.

Goalkeeper Shane Higgs (thigh) Luciano Becchio (ankle), Ben Parker (hamstring), Andy Robinson (hamstring) and Rui Marques (Achilles) remain sidelined.

Yeovil manager Terry Skiverton has to decide whether to change a winning line-up. The Glovers have won their last two matches, against Bristol Rovers and Carlisle United, and they travel to Elland Road boasting a six-match unbeaten run.

Skiverton has vowed to give his players free reign to go on the attack against Leeds, and that could mean a recall to the starting line-up for on-loan Tottenham striker Jon Obika. He came on as a substitute against Rovers last weekend and scored within seconds of his introduction in Yeovil's 2-1 win.

It was the Somerset side's first away victory of the season, to lift them up into mid-table.

Leyton Orient v Southampton

Stephen Purches and Adam Chambers will be added to the Leyton Orient squad for the visit of Southampton. Skipper Purches should return to the back four after missing last weekend's 4-0 defeat at Huddersfield through illness, and the right-back will continue to play in a protective mask following his recent fractured cheekbone.

Midfielder Chambers now has three reserve games under his belt after six weeks out with a calf injury and he is also ready for a first-team return. Goalkeeper Jamie Jones (head) and midfielder Sean Thornton (knee) resumed training this week following their recent lay-offs but neither will be risked.

Left-back Charlie Daniels had to come off after an hour last weekend due to illness but he is fine.

David Connolly and Dean Hammond are injury doubts for Southampton. Striker Connolly, who has scored on his last two appearances as a sustitute, is struggling with a thigh strain and looks set to miss out.

Midfielder Hammond has also found the net in the last two games but is rated only 50-50 with a hamstring problem. On-loan Chelsea youngster Jacob Mellis will come into the the line-up if Hammond is unavailable.

Veteran full-back Graeme Murty, who has been out since August with a knee injury, is on the mend and has been pencilled in for a return against Charlton in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy next month. Fellow defender Lee Molyneux is the only other absentee with a back problem.

MK Dons v Bristol Rovers

Barnsley winger Martin Devaney has joined MK Dons on a one-month loan deal. The 29-year-old has been a fringe player at Barnsley under both manager Mark Robins and previous incumbent Simon Davey.

Devaney goes straight into Paul Ince's squad to face Bristol Rovers on Saturday. Defender Danny Coles will miss Rovers' trip with a knee injury.

The former Hull man - who was beset by knee problems for the best part of last season - missed the midweek defeat to Leeds as a result of the injury and is to see a specialist to determine the extent of the damage. His absence means that Steve Elliott is likely to continue in the back four, although Chris Lines (shin) could make a late claim to be involved.

Dominic Blizzard and Andy Williams - like Elliott - were given rare starts against Leeds, but the 4-0 loss to Simon Grayson's side could prompt Paul Trollope into making changes. Striker Darryl Duffy is one that could profit from such a move, while winger Mark Wright will be desperate to face his former club.

The Pirates have lost their last four games, conceding 13 goals in the process.

Millwall v Colchester

Millwall will check on Gary Alexander and Danny Schofield ahead of the visit of Colchester. Striker Alexander, who climbed off the bench to hit the winner against Leeds last weekend, is a major doubt with a heel injury and midfielder Schofield is rated 50-50 after picking up a calf niggle.

If Schofield is fit boss Kenny Jackett is likely to name the same starting line-up for the third game running. Andy Frampton serves the final game of his three-match ban, although he will be unavailable for another month after suffering an ankle injury making the challenge that earned him the red card.

Fellow defenders Darren Ward (knee), Zak Whitbread (hip), Pat O'Connor (cruciate) and Danny Senda (Achilles) remain on the sidelines along with midfielder Ali Fuseini (knee).

Marc Tierney and Kem Izzet should return to the Colchester squad. Defender Tierney sat out last weekend's 2-1 win over Walsall through suspension and midfielder Izzet was absent due to a bout of flu.

Tierney will hope to get the nod over Matt Lockwood at left-back, and if Izzet is fully fit he will challenge West Ham loanee Josh Payne for a place in the centre.

Defenders Pat Baldwin and Paul Reid (both knee) continued their recovery from long-term injuries with run-outs for the reserves in midweek, but with the Us on a nine-match unbeaten run neither need to be rushed back.

Winger Ashley Vincent and striker Scott Vernon (both ankle) are still on the sidelines.

Stockport v Norwich

Stockport are set to welcome back winger Carl Baker for their match against Norwich. Baker missed their match against Brentford, a game they lost 2-0, with a calf injury but has now recovered and is set to regain his role in Stockport's midfield.

Paul Turnbull deputised for Baker against Brentford and is set to stand down with his team-mate fit again. Boss Gary Ablett has no other injury concerns apart from long-term injury absentee Matty Mainwaring, who has a broken leg and will not return this year.

Ablett's men have won just once in their last seven fixtures, a run which has included four defeats. And they face a stiff test against Norwich, who are currently fifth in the table after a strong start to the season.

Norwich have no recognised right-back for the trip. Jon Otsemobor, Michael Spillane (both hamstring) and George Francomb (thigh) are all on the sidelines and boss Paul Lambert could not bring in a loan player in time.

Midfielder Stephen Hughes and striker Luke Daley (both thigh) are also out while Michael Nelson and Owain Tudur Jones lack match fitness. Centre-half Michael Nelson could start after making an unexpected return from a foot injury as a last-minute substitute in the 1-0 win over Swindon.

Matt Gill was on the bench last week for first time in two months after a knee injury and will be in contention to start after playing for the reserves. Adam Drury is in line to make his 300th appearance for the club.

Tranmere v Swindon

Tranmere will be without Charlie Barnett for their match against Swindon. The midfielder was on the pitch for just 13 minutes in the 1-0 defeat by Hartlepool, having come on for John Welsh, when he was sent-off for a lunge on Neil Austin.

With the video evidence inconclusive, Tranmere decided not to appeal the decision and therefore the midfielder will be missing from this weekend's fixture. However Welsh, who has been suffering from illness, has trained this week and should be available.

And Tranmere's prospects of a second victory in six matches have been bolstered by the return of Michael Ricketts. Ricketts is back in contention after recovering from a virus that has sidelined him in recent weeks.

The former Bolton forward has undergone intensive training this week in order to be fit and is set to be involved in the squad.

Swindon will once again be without influential midfielder Jonathan Douglas. The Robins have keenly felt the former Leeds man's absence in the middle of the park as he serves a four-match suspension, with successive defeats in the two matches he has missed to date.

Wilson has already said his remaining players must prove they are not a one-man team but a lack of goals, and quality service to the frontmen, is hampering their chances. Strike duo Billy Paynter and Charlie Austin pressed their claims for involvement with a brace apiece in a 4-1 midweek triumph for the reserves at Reading.

Midfielder Alan O'Brien continues his recovery from a hamstring injury that has kept him out since August but the clash at Prenton Park comes too soon for him, while defender Hasney Aljofree is also in a similar situation.

Kurt Hammonds (knee) is also close to making his comeback but winger Lloyd Macklin (fractured leg) and midfielder Yinka Casal (knee) remain out for the foreseeable future.

Wycombe v Walsall

Wycombe boss Gary Waddock is hoping to have forward Jon-Paul Pittman back in his side when Walsall visit Adams Park. Pittman missed the 1-1 draw at Exeter last Saturday with a groin strain but is back in training and should be involved against the Saddlers.

Midfielder Tommy Doherty made his first appearance of the season at St James` Park after recovering from an ankle injury and despite a lack of match fitness, is expected to keep his place. Stuart Green is back in training after a hamstring injury but will not feature while Matty Bloomfield is fully fit after a broken nose and cheekbone.

Forward Stuart Beavon has had groin surgery and will be out for around six weeks as Waddock looks for a first win in charge. Walsall wide man Steve Jones returns after recovering from the virus that ruled him out of last weekend's narrow defeat at Colchester.

Jones, who struck a brace against Exeter the week previous, fell ill leading up to the encounter at the Weston Homes Community Stadium and was unable to feature, yet he returns to the fray this time around. Full-back Jamie Vincent injured his calf during the warm-up against the Us and had be withdrawn, but he is also ok and will battle it out with Netan Sansara for a starting place after he impressed when handed the opportunity.

Richard Taundry (hamstring) and Clayton McDonald featured for the reserves in midweek and they should both be in contention to face Wanderers, although the latter did make the bench last Saturday. Manager Chris Hutchings will, however, make sure Taundry is 100% having spent over a month out.

Striker Sam Parkin (back) will be assessed over the next 24 hours while goalkeeper Rene Gilmartin remains sidelined for up to three weeks with a hamstring injury.

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