Exeter v Morecambe preview

admin

Exeter will be boosted by the return of three first-team regulars when they tackle Morecambe.

Left-back Craig Woodman has not featured for a month due to a hamstring injury but has been declared fully fit, while Alex Nicholls is ready to overcome the dead leg that saw him miss last weekend’s win at Cheltenham.

And with goalkeeper James Hamon having recovered from the concussion that saw him withdrawn from the starting line-up just before kick-off against the Robins, there are plenty of options for Exeter boss Paul Tisdale.

Tisdale has a striking dilemma with Graham Cummins having marked his return to the side with a goal, but he remains without David Noble and Pat Baldwin.

Andreas Arestidou will start in goal for Morecambe as Danny Ward is on international duty.

Liverpool loanee Ward made his debut last week in the 1-1 draw with Carlisle when Arestidou’s one-game suspension left the Shrimpers short of stoppers, with first-choice Barry Roche (hip) still out.

Arestidou will reclaim his spot between the sticks as Ward becomes the first Shrimps player to miss a game through commitments to his country.

Boss Jim Bentley’s only other injury concern is midfielder Ryan Williams, who can play but may need hernia surgery at some point.

Breaking news, transfer gossip, line ups and goal alerts from your football club – delivered direct to your mobile. Sign up for Sky Sports Alerts

Exeter v Morecambe preview

admin

Exeter will assess goalkeeper Artur Krysiak before they host Morecambe on Tuesday night.

The Polish shotstopper had been an ever-present for the Grecians this season until his picked up an injury in the 1-1 draw with Portsmouth which saw 18-year-old Christy Pym handed his first appearance for the club at Southend on Saturday.

And youth product Pym looks set to make his home debut if Krysiak is not passed fit to face the Shrimps.

Bristol Rovers loanee Eliot Richards stepped off the bench to score the winning goal at Southend on Saturday and he will also hope to make his first start at St James Park.

Morecambe midfielder Alex Kenyon will complete a three-match suspension at Exeter.

Kenyon was dismissed in the game at Accrington, which was later called off due to a waterlogged pitch and will sit out again for a Shrimps team without a win in seven games.

The trio of Mark Hughes (hamstring), Andy Fleming (knee) and Robbie Threlfall (head) overcame injuries to start on Saturday, all completing 90 minutes despite their respective problems.

However, winger Marcus Marshall, who has had an injured blighted time at the Globe Arena, is still at least another week away with a hamstring problem.

Exeter v Morecambe preview

admin

Exeter manager Paul Tisdale hopes to welcome back striker Alan Gow into the starting line-up for their league opener at home.

Gow, who limped out of the warm up in the Grecians’ final pre-season friendly was only fit for a substitute’s role during Tuesday’s League Cup defeat to Crystal Palace.

Defender Tommy Doherty limped out of that fixture after taking a knock but is expected to return. Elliott Frear is likely to deputise again if he does not recover in time.

Injured trio Matt Oakley, Steve Tully and Craig Woodman were also absent and are doubtful for the weekend.

Tully and Woodman face late fitness tests and may feature on the bench but Oakley is still recovering from a thigh injury which has kept him sidelined for nine months.

Meanwhile, Nick Fenton and Richard Brodie are pushing for places in Morecambe’s starting line-up.

Experienced defender Fenton and on-loan Crawley striker Brodie were both left on the bench as a precaution due to calf injuries for last Sunday’s shock 2-1 Capital One Cup win over Blackpool.

Brodie came off the bench in the second half to make his Shrimps debut in place of Jordan Burrow and the 25-year-old is well placed to start alongside Lewis Alessandra, who opened the scoring at Bloomfield Road.

Chris McCready is most likely to make way should Fenton be accommodated at the heart of the defence.

Veteran attacker Kevin Ellison is 100 per cent fit to start the new league season having had the back problem that plagued last term him carefully managed through pre-season, meaning boss Jim Bentley has a fully-fit squad at his disposal.