Yeovil v Notts County preview

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Paul Sturrock could be without his captain when he takes charge of Yeovil for the first time against Notts County.

The Scot was appointed as the Glovers’ new boss on Thursday and will use the final matches of the season to prepare for life in League Two next season and he looks likely to be missing skipper Joe Edwards as he continues to struggle with an ankle problem.

The likes of Nathan Smith, James Berrett and Kieffer Moore will all hope to feature at Huish Park.

Six defeats in a row have left Yeovil 13 points adrift at the bottom of League One and defeat to County would see them relegated to the fourth tier.

Ricardo Moniz will take charge of Notts County for the first time.

It remains to be seen what team the new manager will select, although Ronan Murray, Curtis Thompson and Taylor McKenzie remain unavailable to the Dutchman through injury.

“It is tough for me to make calls after just two training sessions, of course,” said Moniz, who was appointed on Tuesday. “Maybe I will make the wrong decision. But all players are important. Just because a player does not play on Saturday, it doesn’t mean he won’t play in the next game.”

Blair Adams and Jordan Williams are defensive options for Moniz should he wish to make any changes to the starting line-up, while midfielder Liam Noble and forwards Leroy Lita and Balint Bajner provide alternatives in attack.

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Yeovil v Notts County preview

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Yeovil winger Keanu Marsh-Brown will miss out after being booked for diving.

The 20-year-old picked up the yellow card, his fifth of the season, with just two minutes to go in their Johnstone’s Paint Trophy victory over Wycombe, a decision manager Gary Johnson believes was a correct one.

“I thought it was a yellow card,” he said. “He did dive, and if you dive then you’ve got to get a yellow card. That’s how it was, but the less I say about that, the better.”

While Marsh-Brown will serve his one-game suspension Johnson’s options are boosted by the return of on-loan duo Paddy Madden and Dale Bennett.

The pair were cup-tied for the midweek clash having already featured in the competition but they will go straight back into the matchday squad with top scorer Madden likely to start at Huish Park.

Captain Jamie McAllister stepped back into the side against Wycombe after suspension and is expected to keep his place after a solid display.

Dean Leacock and Chris Iwelumo return to contention for Notts County.

Centre-half Leacock missed the 1-1 FA Cup draw at Rotherham due to a one-match suspension while on-loan striker Iwelumo was ineligible for last weekend’s second-round tie.

There is a strong possibility that both players could be restored to the starting line-up by Magpies manager Keith Curle, who also has the likes of striker Enoch Showunmi, midfielder Joss Labadie and defender Carl Regan pushing for recalls.

The game in Somerset will see winger Jamal Campbell-Ryce and veteran striker Lee Hughes complete their three-match bans.

Notts County travel to Huish Park looking to extend their club-record run of away fixtures without defeat to 21 games.

Yeovil v Notts County preview

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Yeovil manager Terry Skiverton has a full complement of players to choose from.

Midfielder Gavin Williams is set for a return to the first team after almost exactly three months on the sidelines with a knee ligament injury and could even start against the Magpies.

Winger Alan O’Brien is also fit after shrugging off a hamstring problem as Skiverton targets a second successive win in League One following the 1-0 victory at Hartlepool 10 days ago.

Gavin Massey extended his loan spell from Watford through until January 14 during the week and will be hoping to start the match.

With no suspensions hanging over them, the Glovers are in a good position to improve on a five-match unbeaten streak in all competitions.

Lee Hughes faces a late fitness test before Notts County manager Martin Allen decides whether to include the veteran striker in his squad.

Hughes missed the FA Cup second-round victory at non-league Sutton United last weekend through suspension after collecting his fifth yellow card of the season during the league win against Scunthorpe.

The 35-year-old will return to the squad if he has recovered from a minor calf complaint.

Jude Stirling, an unused substitute in the cup on Sunday evening, underwent cartilage surgery this week and is expected to be out for around two months.

He joins fellow defender Stephen Hunt (ankle) and goalkeeper Rob Burch (knee), who are both long-term absentees, on the sidelines.

Yeovil v Notts County preview

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Yeovil boss Terry Skiverton will wait on the fitness of Paul Wotton before naming his squad.

The 33-year-old midfielder missed Saturday’s 3-1 defeat at Hartlepool after suffering a recurrence of a hamstring injury, but he will be given as much time as possible to declare his fitness.

The Glovers boss has no other injury or suspension problems, but could be tempted to make changes following two successive defeats.

Ed Upson and veteran midfielder Alex Russell, 38, are pushing for recalls following substitute appearances against the Pools, while striker Martin Gritton is pushing for further involvement after making his debut in the same game.

Defenders Nathan Jones and Luke Ayling are also options, along with midfielder Billy Gibson.

A win would take Yeovil onto the 50-point mark.

Graeme Lee will become the latest Notts County player to serve a suspension when Martin Allen takes charge of the club for the first time.

Lee must serve a two-match ban after he was sent off during the defeat at Dagenham & Redbridge on Saturday.

The defender is unavailable along with midfielder Ricky Ravenhill, who will complete his two-match suspension at Huish Park.

Lee is likely to be replaced by Mike Edwards, who comes back into the reckoning after serving his two-game ban.

Allen left his role in charge of Barnet, where he has been assisting his former club in their battle against relegation from the Football League on a non-contract basis for the last three weeks, to sign a one-year rolling deal with Notts on Monday.

He will be looking to halt a seven-game losing streak that has seen the club drop into the League One relegation places. However, he must do so without the injured Krystian Pearce, Alan Judge, Fabian Brandy and Alan Gow.