Exeter v Fleetwood preview

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Exeter have no fresh injury worries as they host Fleetwood looking to end a 13-match winless run at St James Park.

The Grecians have not taken three points on home soil since October 5 and are currently in the midst of a seven-game winless run but they do not have any absentees.

Manager Paul Tisdale named an experienced line-up against Newport last week with 33-year-old Matt Gill and Danny Butterfield, 34, being recalled but youngsters Matt Grimes and Jamie Reid are pushing to start against the Cod Army.

The likes of David Wheeler, Sam Parkin and Arron Davies will also hope to be involved.

Iain Hume could make his Fleetwood debut this weekend when the promotion-chasing League Two side travel to Exeter.

The Canadian international striker signed a loan deal at Highbury from Preston for the rest of the season on Thursday and could reprise his strike-partnership with former team-mate Jon Parkin.

Hume’s arrival has also means boss Graham Alexander is unlikely to rush back David Ball (ankle) or Blackpool loanee Bobby Grant (knee).

Midfielder Jeff Hughes will not play again this season after breaking his leg back in January.

Exeter v Fleetwood preview

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Exeter have no fresh injury worries as they play host to the Cod Army for the first time in their history, looking to build on Tuesday’s morale-boosting win.

Goals from Jamie Cureton and John O’Flynn helped the Grecians to a victory over AFC Wimbledon which ended a month-long winless run and manager Paul Tisdale spoke about the positive impact those three points have had ahead of the visit of Micky Mellon’s side.

“It was a very important win because it gets the wheels turning again and we had a very bad month,” Tisdale said. “We’d played well recently but not won games and so everyone needed it.

“I needed it, the supporters needed it and the players needed a day off where they weren’t questioning their own performance and were able to switch off and you can rarely do that after you’ve lost a game.”

Winger Arron Davies is City’s only absentee and will be out for a week or two while Dorchester’s FA Cup hero Jake Gosling has extended his loan stay with the giantkillers for another month.

Fleetwood will be without Jon Parkin and Rob Edwards.

Veteran striker Parkin scored Town’s goal in Tuesday night’s 1-1 draw with Rotherham but could face up to six weeks on the sidelines with a hamstring strain, while on-loan Barnsley defender Edwards sustained a similar complaint.

Left-winger Junior Brown came off the bench to replace Parkin early in the second half and is pushing for a recall

Shaun Beeley (thigh) returned from a lay-off of his own at left-back on Tuesday night, although veteran midfielder Damien Johnson remains doubtful.

The former Northern Ireland international is closing in on a return from a hamstring problem but the weekend might come too soon for him.

Forward Andy Mangan and defender Anthony Barry are both long-term absentees with serious knee injuries.