York v Exeter preview

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York boss Russ Wilcox could opt to make several changes for his side’s home game against Exeter.

The Minstermen remain a point above the relegation zone following last week’s 3-0 defeat at Northampton and with striker Jake Hyde serving the final game of his three-match ban, Wilcox must decide whether to include Diego De Girolamo in his starting line-up.

The Sheffield United forward rejoined the club on loan last week in time to start on the bench, with Wes Fletcher resuming up front.

Midfielder Luke Summerfield remains sidelined with a thigh injury as York chase a second league win in 10 matches.

Exeter have been dealt a huge injury blow with the news David Noble will spend a few more weeks on the sidelines.

The Grecians have struggled without the influential midfielder, who aggravated a hamstring injury during a brief appearance against Portsmouth earlier this month, and Paul Tisdale will now have to manage without the former Oldham man for a few weeks.

But Tisdale expects to call on experienced duo Craig Woodman and Danny Butterfield against the Minstermen.

Woodman was forced off at half-time in their disappointing home defeat against bitter rivals Plymouth on Saturday with hamstring tightness while Butterfield missed that match with a minor injury, but the pair should return.

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York v Exeter preview

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York’s leading goalscorer Ashley Chambers will play no part in the weekend tie and fellow striker Jason Walker remains doubtful.

Chambers has missed the last three games with a hernia problem, while Walker has been struggling with the virus that forced him off during the New Year’s Day win over Burton.

Jamie Reed is expected to return to the starting line-up if Walker fails to make it, while fellow striker Alex Rodman will play the last match of his loan spell before his scheduled return to parent club Aldershot.

Central defender Chris Doig is unlikely to feature due to the ankle injury he sustained in the Boxing Day defeat at Chesterfield, so David McGurk will continue at the heart of defence.

Oli Johnson (groin) and fellow striker Michael Coulson (knee) remain long-term absentees.

Exeter will be without Liam Sercombe and Jamie Cureton as they look to continue their impressive away form at York.

The Grecians have won eight of their 12 games on the road this season, the latest a 1-0 victory at Wycombe on New Year’s Day, but they will travel to Bootham Crescent without two of their regulars.

Sercombe looks set to miss the rest of the season after undergoing surgery on a broken ankle while Cureton will serve a three-match ban for his straight red card at Adams Park.

But it is Sercombe’s absence which will have more of an impact on the second half of City’s season with the youth product undergoing surgery on Thursday, meaning his campaign is effectively over.

Tommy Doherty, an unused substitute against the Chairboys, is back in contention after a hamstring injury.