Oldham v Bradford preview

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Oldham expect to have James Dayton available when Bradford visit Boundary Park on Sunday.

Latics were concerned with an ankle knock the ex-Kilmarnock winger picked up in the win over Shrewsbury on Tuesday night but it is not expected to cause Dayton to miss any playing time.

That will undoubtedly be a relief to boss Lee Johnson who confirmed that Cristian Montano (knee), Kirk Millar (ankle and calf) and Edijs Joksts (back) are all sidelined for extended periods of time.

Centre-back Genseric Kusunga serves the second game of his three-match suspension but Wade Joyce and Ellis Plummer, both brought in on loan deals on Thursday, could be included in Johnson’s squad.

Bradford’s squad has been badly affected by a sickness bug this week and boss Phil Parkinson will delay naming his side to face Oldham on Sunday.

Parkinson kept all his players away on Wednesday and Thursday in a bid to stop the virus spreading, while the training ground has been sterilized.

Defender Matt Taylor was ruled out of the midweek draw against Notts County, striker Nahki Wells was forced off in the second half and defender Rory McArdle, forwards James Hanson and Alan Connell, plus winger Kyel Reid were also struggling with the illness.

Winger Mark Yeates is pushing for a recall after firing the equaliser in midweek and defender Carl McHugh could return to contention after an ankle injury.

Oldham v Bradford preview

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Oldham will be without Dean Furman for the midweek clash.

Furman collected his fifth booking of the season in Saturday’s 1-1 FA Cup second-round draw at Southend. On-loan Norwich youngster and former Bantams loanee Tom Adeyemi is expected to take the 23-year-old’s place in the Latics engine room.

Fellow midfielder Chris Taylor also has a chance of being involved, although boss Paul Dickov will continue to treat his hamstring injury with caution.

Taylor limped out of the League One stalemate at Bournemouth and was absent from the matchday squad against Southend.

Centre-back Zander Diamond came off with a knee injury after 15 minutes against Paul Sturrock’s men. The Scot’s problem is not as bad as first feared, but Nathan Clarke is ready to step into the heart of the defence if required.

Bradford are short of midfielders with both Michael Flynn and Ricky Ravenhill unavailable.

Flynn sits out a one-game ban under the totting up procedure following his yellow card for time wasting in the weekend FA Cup win over AFC Wimbledon.

Ravenhill, a recent loan signing from Notts County, has already played for his parent club earlier in the competition.

Fellow midfielders Chris Mitchell and Ritchie Jones are both struggling with illness and so manager Phil Parkinson could hand a first start of the season to Luke Dean, a late substitute against Wimbledon.

Midfielder Kyel Reid, goalkeeper Jon McLaughlin and winger Jack Compton all featured on Saturday after shaking off the bug that has badly affected Parkinson’s squad over the last seven days.

Parkinson has no other new injury or suspension problems for the northern section semi-final as his side looks to register their third away win in the competition.