Stockport v Southend preview

Team news for Saturday afternoon's League Two clash between Stockport and Southend at Edgeley Park (1pm kick-off).

Stockport manager Ray Mathias will be without defender Alan Goodall.

Goodall must serve a one-game ban after he was sent off for collecting two bookings in last weekend's 1-0 defeat at Aldershot.

County, rock-bottom of League Two, this week extended the loan of Ipswich goalkeeper Ian McLoughlin until the end of the season.

However, he is unavailable to face Southend as he is on international duty with Republic of Ireland Under-21s.

Southend striker Matt Paterson is on loan at Edgeley Park but is not available to face his parent club.

Mansour Assoumani is available after injury but fellow defenders Danny Swailes and Danny O'Donnell are set to remain sidelined with long-term injuries.

Southend boss Paul Sturrock will be without Kane Ferdinand, along with several other first-team players.

The 18-year-old midfielder, who signed his first professional contract with the Essex club on Monday, will be unavailable due to his Republic of Ireland Under-19s call-up.

Sturrock had hoped the teenager would be allowed to face the Hatters, but the Irish Football Association have insisted Ferdinand must travel with the squad for their game in Cyprus this weekend.

Centre-back Luke Prosser remains sidelined with a calf problem while left-back Peter Gilbert is facing another week out with an ankle injury.

Influential midfielder Craig Easton is absent with a calf problem which is likely to keep him out of action for another fortnight, while defender Bilel Mohsni (ankle) is also ruled out.

Striker Harry Crawford is hoping for a recall after stepping off the bench to net a brace during last Friday's 4-0 thumping of Hereford.