Wycombe v Rochdale preview

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Wycombe will assess strikers Matt McClure and Steven Craig ahead of the clash with Rochdale.

The pair started the 1-1 draw with Cheltenham on Tuesday but neither completed the 90 minutes due to slight hamstring strains and while boss Gareth Ainsworth says the Dale match may come too soon for the duo, their problems are not long-term.

Matt Bloomfield also had to come off with an injury against the Robins but will be available while Stuart Lewis should overcome an illness to be in contention.

Midfielder Sam Togwell, on loan from Chesterfield, could make his second start for the club having served a one-match ban for a red card on his debut but Paris Cowan-Hall, Gary Doherty, Charles Dunne and Tommy Fletcher will miss out once more.

Rochdale will be without suspended midfielder Matty Lund as they look to stay top of the table with victory at Wycombe.

Lund, who recently returned to the side following injury, was sent off for two yellow-card offences in the midweek win at Northampton and sits out a one-game suspension. Jason Kennedy is among those hoping to replace him.

Defender Ollie Lancashire returns to contention after a two-match ban following his second red card of the season in the recent defeat at Torquay.

Leading goalscorer Scott Hogan (knee) has missed the last three games and remains sidelined as Keith Hill’s side chase a seventh win in 10 league matches.

Wycombe v Rochdale preview

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Wycombe’s new permanent manager Gareth Ainsworth hopes to have two of his 10 injured players back for the visit of Dale.

The 39-year-old, appointed on a full-time basis on Thursday, has a lengthy injury list but was boosted by Stuart Lewis and Dennis Oli returning to action in the midweek draw with Aldershot.

The new manager hopes to be able to call on two more players this weekend but the former QPR man is keeping his cards close to his chest when it comes the identity of the likely returnees.

Matt McClure (hamstring), Gary Doherty (back), Anthony Stewart (thigh), Danny Foster (groin), Grant Basey (cruciate ligament), Leon Johnson (hamstring), Matt Bloomfield (groin), Dean Morgan (hamstring) and Jo Kuffour (ankle ligament) are all on the sidelines while Marvin McCoy continues his recovery.

Goalkeeper Nikki Bull left the club on Thursday for personal and footballing reasons having made 114 appearances since joining in 2010.

Rochdale will be without defender Phil Edwards for the trip to Wycombe.

Edwards collected his fifth booking of the season in midweek as John Coleman’s men came back from two goals down to snatch a draw at Port Vale and he must now serve a one-match ban.

Midfielder Ray Putterill returned to action from the bench at Vale Park following a long lay-off with a groin injury and will push for inclusion once more.

Dale have drawn their last three matches in all competitions and lie one point outside the play-off places.

Coleman has no new injury worries, with long-term victims Reece Gray (broken leg) and goalkeeper Matt Edwards (broken wrist) remaining on the sidelines.

Wycombe v Rochdale preview

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Marcello Trotta’s decision not to extend his loan spell is a blow for Wycombe.

Trotta scored eight goals in as many appearances during his two-month stay at Adams Park but the Italian teenager returned to Fulham this week after rejecting the chance to stay in Buckinghamshire.

Manager Gary Waddock is trying to sign a replacement but he is unsure as to whether anything will materialise before Saturday.

Should there be no new arrival, Waddock must pick between Scott Rendell, Ben Strevens or the fit-again Matt McClure to partner Stuart Beavon up front.

McClure has been injured all season while, between them, Rendell and Strevens have scored just three goals in 35 appearances.

With Leon Johnson and Dave Winfield nursing knee injuries, Louis Laing was brought in on loan as defensive cover this week and the Sunderland teenager could make his debut.

Joe Widdowson may return to the Rochdale line-up.

Left-back Widdowson served a one-match ban when Dale travelled to Tranmere in midweek following his red card in the 5-1 home defeat to Stevenage.

However, he may face a battle to return to caretaker manager Chris Beech’s starting line-up after a reshuffled backline held Rovers to a goalless draw, with Stephen Jordan reverting to left-back and Kevin Amankwaah impressing on his full debut at the heart of defence.

Goalkeeper Peter Kurucz is fit to continue between the posts despite a dead-leg hindering his kicking in the closing stages at Prenton Park.

Midfielder Simon Hackney (abdominal) and defender Marc Twaddle (defender) remain long-term absentees.