Notts County v Walsall preview

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Notts County will be without the suspended Ronan Murray when Walsall visit Meadow Lane.

Murray scored after seven minutes on Tuesday night to give the Magpies a 2-0 lead at Peterborough but was then sent off in the 17th minute for throwing a punch at Posh midfielder Danny Swanson. The striker will begin a three-match ban against the Saddlers.

His absence could pave the way for Callum Ball to make his first start for the club since prolonging his loan stay from Derby, although transfer-listed striker Danny Haynes is also an option for manager Shaun Derry.

Kwesi Appiah made his debut from the bench during the 4-3 defeat to Peterborough and the on-loan Crystal Palace forward could come into contention for his full debut.

Walsall will be without Andy Taylor when they travel to Notts County.

The left-back was forced off during the 1-1 draw against Brentford with a knee injury and scans this week have revealed a grade one tear, which will keep him sidelined for around a fortnight.

Mal Benning replaced Taylor at the weekend and Dean Smith has hinted that the 20-year-old will be handed a first start since August .

Other than that, Smith has no new problems and is unlikely to make changes from the side that ended Brentford’s eight-match winning run in League One.

Notts County v Walsall preview

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Francois Zoko is a doubt for Notts County ahead of this weekend’s match.

Summer signing Zoko, who has scored in both League One fixtures this season following his arrival from Carlisle, went off injured on Tuesday night shortly after giving the Magpies the lead against Hartlepool.

Fellow forward Yoann Arquin missed the 2-0 win in midweek through suspension and the Frenchman will sit out the second game of his three-match ban for the red card he received during the opening-day victory at Crewe.

Teenager Tyrell Waite was involved as a late substitute against Hartlepool and the 18-year-old could be in the squad once more, particularly if Zoko misses out.

The likes of Gavin Mahon, Joss Labadie, Hamza Bencherif and Carl Regan are available should manager Keith Curle wish to make any changes.

Meanwhile, Walsall remain without Febian Brandy and Richard Taundry as they aim to end Notts County’s 100 per cent start to the season.

Striker Brandy missed Tuesday’s 1-1 draw at Oldham – a point which got the Saddlers off the mark – with a hamstring injured sustained in the club’s 3-0 opening-day defeat at home to Doncaster.

Full-back Taundry has missed both league games with a hamstring strain of his own and although he is expected to return to training on Friday, the game comes too soon and he will not be risked.

Manager Dean Smith has no new injury problems and could well stick with the same XI from midweek as he aims to topple a Magpies side who have won both of their league fixtures to date.

Notts County v Walsall preview

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Notts County boss Martin Allen has no new injury worries.

County played a friendly against Juventus on Thursday night to mark the opening of the Serie A club’s new stadium but came out of the match in Turin unscathed.

Defender Stephen Hunt remains sidelined with injury, but Ricky Ravenhill has fully recovered from concussion after he started against Juve.

Lee Hughes came off the bench to score the equaliser in a 1-1 draw and showed no signs of struggling with a neck injury he suffered against Preston.

The Magpies will be looking to build on their impressive performance in Italy as well as trying to string together two successive league wins for the first time this season.

Walsall can welcome back Will Grigg as well as a fully-fit Jon Macken.

Grigg has missed the Saddlers’ last two matches having been on international duty with Northern Ireland’s Under-21s but returns to the fold at Meadow Lane.

Fellow striker Macken started last weekend’s 1-0 home defeat to Brentford before being withdrawn shortly after half-time when it was clear he was not 100 per cent fit having got little training under his belt following an ankle injury.

But he is now raring to go against County and will compete with Grigg and Ryan Jarvis to start in attack.

Hungarian youngster David Grof has kept out regular first-choice goalkeeper Jimmy Walker of late and the pair will again battle it out to see who starts.

Notts County v Walsall preview

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Notts County midfielder Neal Bishop is doubtful for the clash.

Bishop, who scored his first goal at Meadow Lane to give County the lead in Sunday’s FA Cup clash with Manchester City, is struggling with a leg injury.

Fellow midfielders Lewis Gobern and John Spicer were unused substitutes in the 1-1 draw with City and will be vying to start against Walsall if Bishop fails to make it.

County manager Paul Ince has no other new injury or suspension woes, but defender Liam Chilvers remains sidelined due to a knee injury.

Striker Lee Hughes suffered no reaction in the game against City after recently returning from a calf injury and is expected to start, as is skipper Mike Edwards, who has been nursing a hamstring strain.

Walsall manager Dean Smith could recall goalkeeper Richard Walker for the clash.

Walker missed Saturday’s 6-1 win over Bristol Rovers due to “family reasons”, but is back in contention and could return in place of understudy David Bevan.

Defender Manny Smith is also expected to return to the squad after missing out at the weekend with a hamstring strain.

Recent loan signing Jason Price from Carlisle is hoping to retain his place up front after making his debut against Rovers, while defender Richard Taundry is pushing for a recall after returning to the bench on Saturday following an ankle injury.

Striker Darren Byfield remains sidelined with the knee injury which has kept him out since September.

The Saddlers moved off the bottom of the table at the weekend with their first league win in eight matches.