Scunthorpe v Coventry preview

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The Iron’s new loan signing Eirik Holmen Johansen will go straight into the starting line-up.

The 20-year-old, signed on loan from Manchester City, has been drafted in as cover for Sam Slocombe, who has been ruled out for the rest of the month after aggravating a torn thigh muscle in last week’s defeat at Brentford.

Skipper Paul Reid is expected to return to contention after missing the last three games through illness and Akpo Sodje will boost manager Brian Laws’ options up front after being sidelined for two games due to a knock sustained in the recent defeat at Yeovil.

Midfielder Damien Mozika is another player hoping to be included in the squad after missing out since January due to a hamstring injury.

Defender Callum Kennedy (hamstring) and striker Robbie Gibbons (illness) are still out as Scunthorpe, two points above the drop zone, chase a second win in five matches.

Steven Pressley will take charge of his first game for the Sky Blues having been confirmed as the club’s new manager on Friday.

The Scot, who spent three years at Falkirk, penned a three-and-a-half-year deal to replace Mark Robins and takes the reins from caretaker boss Lee Carsley.

Carsley’s final game in the managerial hot seat came with last Saturday’s late 2-1 home defeat to Swindon and Pressley is expected to boast an unchanged squad, although all players start with a clean slate and so changes could be on the agenda.

Defenders Richard Wood (groin) and Blair Adams (knee) remain sidelined for a little longer while striker Stephen Elliott is set to miss the rest of the season with his knee injury.

Striker Leon Clarke returns to Scunthorpe having spent the first half of this season on loan there, scoring 11 goals, prior to his January move to Coventry from Charlton.

Scunthorpe v Coventry preview

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Scunthorpe are boosted by the return of Sam Togwell and Eddie Nolan.

Midfielder Togwell has sat out the last three weeks with a knee problem while defender Nolan was absent from last weekend’s trip to Derby with an ankle injury.

Both men now return for the visit of the Sky Blues as the Iron bid to record their first home win since August.

Yet defender Michael Raynes has been ruled out until at least January with the thigh injury he sustained at Derby last weekend.

Midfielder Michael Collins is missing with a shoulder injury and defender David Mirfin remains sidelined with a foot problem.

Winger Garry Thompson is considered not fit enough to start the match but looks set to play some part off the bench.

Aidy Boothroyd has no new injury or suspension problems as Coventry look to string an unbeaten run together.

The Sky Blues had been on the end of three consecutive defeats prior to last weekend’s 1-0 win over Burnley and Boothroyd will be looking to take something from their clash at Glanford Park to keep the momentum going.

Striker Clive Platt returned from a calf strain to lead the line alongside Marlon King against the Clarets.

The 33-year-old was among a couple of senior players to take a day’s rest in midweek and he should be raring to go again on Saturday.

Wideman David Bell will be hoping to make the bench having recently returned to full training but the likes of Ben Turner, Sammy Clingan (both knee) and Stephen O’Halloran (back) remain on the sidelines.