Notts County v Colchester preview

admin

Mustapha Dumbuya is expected to return to the Notts County squad for the visit of Colchester.

Dumbuya missed the 3-1 victory over Crewe on Tuesday night through injury but Magpies manager Shaun Derry thinks he will be fit for the weekend. However, he may struggle to get back into the starting line-up ahead of Curtis Thompson who impressed at Gresty Road.

The likes of Manny Smith, Dean Leacock, Callum McGregor, Andre Boucaud and Nathan Tyson are also options for Derry should he wish to make any changes to his team.

Victory will see the Magpies climb out of the relegation zone should Shrewsbury fail to win and Carlisle and Tranmere, who play each other at Prenton Park, draw.

Young defender Alex Wynter is expected to make his Colchester debut against Notts County after joining on loan from Crystal Palace.

Forward Freddie Sears could be recalled to the starting line-up after impressing as a substitute on his return from a hamstring injury.

Experienced striker Clinton Morrison and youngster Sammie Szmodics also made a positive impact off the bench in the midweek defeat at Wolves and have given boss Joe Dunne food for thought.

The U’s have received good news on Sanchez Watt’s quad problem but he is unlikely to be fit in time to face the Magpies.

Notts County v Colchester preview

admin

Mustapha Dumbuya is expected to return to the Notts County squad for the visit of Colchester.

Dumbuya missed the 3-1 victory over Crewe on Tuesday night through injury but Magpies manager Shaun Derry thinks he will be fit for the weekend. However, he may struggle to get back into the starting line-up ahead of Curtis Thompson who impressed at Gresty Road.

The likes of Manny Smith, Dean Leacock, Callum McGregor, Andre Boucaud and Nathan Tyson are also options for Derry should he wish to make any changes to his team.

Victory will see the Magpies climb out of the relegation zone should Shrewsbury fail to win and Carlisle and Tranmere, who play each other at Prenton Park, draw.

Young defender Alex Wynter is expected to make his Colchester debut against Notts County after joining on loan from Crystal Palace.

Forward Freddie Sears could be recalled to the starting line-up after impressing as a substitute on his return from a hamstring injury.

Experienced striker Clinton Morrison and youngster Sammie Szmodics also made a positive impact off the bench in the midweek defeat at Wolves and have given boss Joe Dunne food for thought.

The U’s have received good news on Sanchez Watt’s quad problem but he is unlikely to be fit in time to face the Magpies.

Notts County v Colchester preview

admin

Notts County manager Keith Curle could hand late fitness tests to defenders Liam Chilvers and Julian Kelly.

The Magpies boss has no new injury or suspension worries for a game that will decide whether his side secure a play-off place instead of Stevenage and Carlisle.

Hayden Hollis is available following his return from his loan spell at Darlington, but Curle is still without striker Jonathan Forte (knee), goalkeeper Rob Burch (knee), plus defenders Jude Stirling and Sam Sodje (all knee) and Stephen Hunt (ankle).

Midfielder Gavin Mahon and Ishmel Demontagnac and striker Lee Hughes are all pushing for recalls to the starting line-up.

Seventh-placed Notts go into the game level on points with Stevenage, who currently occupy the final play-off spot, and one ahead of Carlisle.

Colchester will monitor Steven Gillespie ahead of the game.

The striker was a 54th-minute substitute for Kayode Odejayi in last weekend’s 4-2 win over Tranmere but lasted just 25 minutes before injury forced him to be replaced by Freddie Sears.

Goalkeeper Ben Williams (foot) and midfielder Karl Duguid (knock) both returned to John Ward’s matchday 16 against Rovers and will again be involved at Meadow Lane.

Ward made four changes for the encounter – Williams, Odejayi, Lloyd James and Michael Rose coming in.

And the likes of Duguid, who had to make do with a place on the bench, Sears, Kem Izzet, John-Joe O’Toole, Matt Heath and Ashley Vincent will all be hoping for recalls.

Notts County v Colchester preview

admin

Notts County manager Keith Curle could hand late fitness tests to defenders Liam Chilvers and Julian Kelly.

The Magpies boss has no new injury or suspension worries for a game that will decide whether his side secure a play-off place instead of Stevenage and Carlisle.

Hayden Hollis is available following his return from his loan spell at Darlington, but Curle is still without striker Jonathan Forte (knee), goalkeeper Rob Burch (knee), plus defenders Jude Stirling and Sam Sodje (all knee) and Stephen Hunt (ankle).

Midfielder Gavin Mahon and Ishmel Demontagnac and striker Lee Hughes are all pushing for recalls to the starting line-up.

Seventh-placed Notts go into the game level on points with Stevenage, who currently occupy the final play-off spot, and one ahead of Carlisle.

Colchester will monitor Steven Gillespie ahead of the game.

The striker was a 54th-minute substitute for Kayode Odejayi in last weekend’s 4-2 win over Tranmere but lasted just 25 minutes before injury forced him to be replaced by Freddie Sears.

Goalkeeper Ben Williams (foot) and midfielder Karl Duguid (knock) both returned to John Ward’s matchday 16 against Rovers and will again be involved at Meadow Lane.

Ward made four changes for the encounter – Williams, Odejayi, Lloyd James and Michael Rose coming in.

And the likes of Duguid, who had to make do with a place on the bench, Sears, Kem Izzet, John-Joe O’Toole, Matt Heath and Ashley Vincent will all be hoping for recalls.

Notts County v Colchester preview

admin

New signings Connor Clifford and Kevin McDonald could be in line to make their full debuts for Notts County when Colchester visit.

The loanees, from Chelsea and Burnley respectively, made their first appearances for the club as second-half substitutes during the home defeat to Exeter on Saturday.

The duo could force their way into the starting line up after assistant boss Alex Rae admitted that Notts ‘looked better’ following their introduction.

No new injuries were incurred at the weekend but changes could be possible, with the likes of John Thompson, Graeme Lee, Lewis Gobern, John Spicer and Ben Burgess joining Clifford and McDonald in the mix for starting roles.

Notts are without a league win since beating Hartlepool 3-0 on January 3.

Colchester manager John Ward could have defender Nathan Clarke back for the game at Notts County.

The on-loan Huddersfield centre-back missed Saturday’s 2-1 home win over Swindon with an ankle injury but he could be available if he comes through a late fitness test.

Goalkeeper Ben Williams made a return on the bench against the Robins after recovering from a back problem and he is likely to occupy that place again as his replacement Mark Cousins has performed well.

Magnus Okuonghae and Brian Wilson will again miss out due to their respective ankle injuries as does fellow defender Morten Knudsen, who signed for the U’s last January but has still not made an appearance due to a knee injury, although the trio are closing in on full fitness.

On-loan Icelandic midfielder Matthmas Vilhjalmsson and fellow January signing Conor Powell are pushing for places in the squad although they are still short of full match fitness.

Midfielder John-Joe O’Toole remains a long-term absentee as he recovers from the cruciate injury he suffered last season.

Notts County v Colchester preview

admin

New signings Connor Clifford and Kevin McDonald could be in line to make their full debuts for Notts County when Colchester visit.

The loanees, from Chelsea and Burnley respectively, made their first appearances for the club as second-half substitutes during the home defeat to Exeter on Saturday.

The duo could force their way into the starting line up after assistant boss Alex Rae admitted that Notts ‘looked better’ following their introduction.

No new injuries were incurred at the weekend but changes could be possible, with the likes of John Thompson, Graeme Lee, Lewis Gobern, John Spicer and Ben Burgess joining Clifford and McDonald in the mix for starting roles.

Notts are without a league win since beating Hartlepool 3-0 on January 3.

Colchester manager John Ward could have defender Nathan Clarke back for the game at Notts County.

The on-loan Huddersfield centre-back missed Saturday’s 2-1 home win over Swindon with an ankle injury but he could be available if he comes through a late fitness test.

Goalkeeper Ben Williams made a return on the bench against the Robins after recovering from a back problem and he is likely to occupy that place again as his replacement Mark Cousins has performed well.

Magnus Okuonghae and Brian Wilson will again miss out due to their respective ankle injuries as does fellow defender Morten Knudsen, who signed for the U’s last January but has still not made an appearance due to a knee injury, although the trio are closing in on full fitness.

On-loan Icelandic midfielder Matthmas Vilhjalmsson and fellow January signing Conor Powell are pushing for places in the squad although they are still short of full match fitness.

Midfielder John-Joe O’Toole remains a long-term absentee as he recovers from the cruciate injury he suffered last season.