Barnet v Port Vale preview

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Ricky Holmes is an injury doubt for Barnet.

The striker limped off against Bristol Rovers last Friday night with an ankle problem.

Fellow forward Jake Hyde missed that 2-1 defeat with a groin strain but he should be fit and could step in if Holmes is ruled out.

Otherwise player-boss Edgar Davids can hand a full debut to recent signing Harry Crawford, who scored the Bees’ goal after coming on as a substitute.

Midfielder Curtis Weston is also available after sitting out against Rovers through illness.

Strikers Steve Kabba (knee) and Ishmail Kamara (shoulder) are still recovering from long-term injuries and back-up goalkeeper Liam O’Brien is out for eight weeks with a groin injury.

Vale manager Micky Adams will check on veteran trio Darren Purse, Liam Chilvers and Lee Hughes.

Adams has named an unchanged team for the last three games and is keen to do so again.

But for defenders Purse and Chilvers and striker Hughes, all of whom are in their 30’s, it would be a third match in the space of a week.

“It definitely helps when you can pick the same team over and over again because everyone is aware of their roles and responsibilities,” said Adams.

“But we have to be mindful of the fact we have three players in the team who are over 30. Maybe three games in a week might be a bit too much for them, but we’ll assess them up to the game and pick a side accordingly.

“If I feel they’ve had enough recovery time, and they’re right, then I’ll pick them again.”

Should Adams need to make any changes he has defender Adam Yates, midfielders Chris Shuker, Sam Morsy and Chris Birchall and strikers Calvin Andrew and Ben Williamson ready to come into the starting XI.

Barnet v Port Vale preview

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Barnet boss Lawrie Sanchez is still without three first-team players.

Striker Steve Kabba is continuing his recovery from a summer knee operation and is about a fortnight away from returning to action.

Defensive duo Darren Dennehy and Daniel Leach, who missed most of last season with foot injuries, suffered setbacks during pre-season and remain on the sidelines.

But Sanchez has no new injury worries and could stick with the side which shocked Championship Portsmouth 1-0 in the Carling Cup on Tuesday night.

Sanchez made one change for the trip to Fratton Park with fit-again Tommy Fraser (foot) replacing Sam Deering in midfield.

The Bees beat Vale at Underhill on a dramatic final day of last season to avoid relegation.

Captain Marc Richards could return to the Port Vale squad.

The striker was forced off after an hour of the opening League Two fixture against last season’s Conference champions Crawley with an ankle injury and missed the Carling Cup defeat to Huddersfield in midweek.

He has had an injection in the hope of aiding his recovery in time for the trip to north London.

Should Richards be fit enough to start, Sean Rigg could play out wide again.

Chris Martin played in goal against Huddersfield but Stuart Tomlinson is likely to reclaim the number one jersey at Underhill.

Defender Gareth Owen, midfielders Robert Taylor and Lewis Haldane and strikers Clayton McDonald, Louis Dodds and Ben Williamson are all options for manager Micky Adams should he wish to make further changes.

Barnet v Port Vale preview

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Barnet boss Giuliano Grazioli faces a goalkeeper dilemma ahead of their final-day relegation decider.

Regular first-choice goalkeeper Jake Cole has failed to recover from a knee injury in time so Sam Walker or Liam O’Brien will get the nod.

Chelsea loanee Walker has made a couple of mistakes in recent matches so former Portsmouth keeper O’Brien could be recalled for the crucial match.

Midfielder Mark Byrne has been struggling with a muscle strain but is due to train before the weekend and should be available.

Matt Parsons (Achilles) is a doubt and fellow defender Anwar Uddin (ankle) is still out along with striker Steve Kabba (knee).

The Bees need to beat Vale and hope Lincoln fail to win against Aldershot in order to stay up.

Port Vale caretaker manager Mark Grew could well name the same starting XI as the one who demolished Morecambe 7-2 last weekend.

Grew will find it difficult to make changes on the back of such a comprehensive display by his Vale side, whose hopes of a play-off place remain mathematically possible but are minimal at best due to their vastly inferior goal difference.

The Vale boss must also take into consideration the battle to avoid relegation, with opponents Barnet fighting it out with Lincoln to remain in League Two.

Forward Sean Rigg (knee ligament damage) and midfielder Doug Loft (ankle) remain ruled out.

The likes of Kris Taylor, John McCombe, Gary Roberts and Lewis Haldane remains options should Grew wish to make any changes, while he could also hand further game time to rookies Ryan Lloyd and Joe Davis after they played the final 20 minutes in the romp over Morecambe.