Barnet v Port Vale preview

Team news for Saturday's League Two clash between Barnet and Port Vale at Underhill.

Last Updated: 08/02/13 at 10:49   

Ricky Holmes: Injury concern for Bees

Ricky Holmes: Injury concern for Bees

Ricky Holmes is an injury doubt for Barnet.

The striker limped off against Bristol Rovers last Friday night with an ankle problem.

Fellow forward Jake Hyde missed that 2-1 defeat with a groin strain but he should be fit and could step in if Holmes is ruled out.

Otherwise player-boss Edgar Davids can hand a full debut to recent signing Harry Crawford, who scored the Bees' goal after coming on as a substitute.

Midfielder Curtis Weston is also available after sitting out against Rovers through illness.

Strikers Steve Kabba (knee) and Ishmail Kamara (shoulder) are still recovering from long-term injuries and back-up goalkeeper Liam O'Brien is out for eight weeks with a groin injury.

Vale manager Micky Adams will check on veteran trio Darren Purse, Liam Chilvers and Lee Hughes.

Adams has named an unchanged team for the last three games and is keen to do so again.

But for defenders Purse and Chilvers and striker Hughes, all of whom are in their 30's, it would be a third match in the space of a week.

"It definitely helps when you can pick the same team over and over again because everyone is aware of their roles and responsibilities," said Adams.

"But we have to be mindful of the fact we have three players in the team who are over 30. Maybe three games in a week might be a bit too much for them, but we'll assess them up to the game and pick a side accordingly.

"If I feel they've had enough recovery time, and they're right, then I'll pick them again."

Should Adams need to make any changes he has defender Adam Yates, midfielders Chris Shuker, Sam Morsy and Chris Birchall and strikers Calvin Andrew and Ben Williamson ready to come into the starting XI.

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npower League 2

Position Team P GD PTS
1 Gillingham 46 27 83
2 Rotherham 46 15 79
3 Port Vale 46 35 78
4 Burton Alb 46 6 76
5 Cheltenham 46 7 75
6 Northamptn 46 9 73
7 Bradford 46 11 69
8 Chesterfld 46 15 67
9 Oxford Utd 46 -1 65
10 Exeter 46 1 64
11 Southend 46 6 61
12 Rochdale 46 -2 61
13 Fleetwood 46 -2 60
14 Bristol R 46 -9 60
15 Wycombe 46 -10 60
16 Morecambe 46 -6 58
17 York City 46 -10 55
18 Accrington 46 -17 54
19 Torquay 46 -7 53
20 AFC W'don 46 -22 53
21 Plymouth 46 -9 52
22 Dag + Red 46 -7 51
23 Barnet 46 -12 51
24 Aldershot 46 -18 48

Updated Sat, 27 Apr 2013

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