Team News...Vs Shrewsbury Town

Last updated : 22 April 2005 By Rob Davies
As we find ourselves in late April, you can smell something in the air that is the unmistakeable stench of the end of the season.

Three games left now, including this one, and, to be fair, the end of the season cannot come quickly enough. Similarly to last week's clash at home to Grimsby, neither side have anything to play for - despite this looking like a minor relegation scuffle when looking at the fixtures a few months back.

Zadkovich: Back in Oz
Another similarity to last Saturday's game is the vast depletion of the ranks in the Notts County squad, leaving an already thin-looking roster looking even smaller. Fans making the trip to the infamous 'Meadow' may be advised to take their boots.

YTS defenders Tommy Hannigan and Will Thacker have both called up to the squad for the game, though the Magpies are still looking thin on the ground in other areas.

Midfielder and part-time Evening Post journalist Paul Bolland is struck down with a foot injury and rated unlikely to play. Striker Matty Williams is also on the injury list after being unable to shake off the thigh injury that ruled him out of last weekend's clash with Grimsby.

The pair join Rob Ullathorne (groin), Mike Whitlow (knee), Ian Richardson (knee), Mike Edwards (cruciate) and Gavin Gordon (jaw) on the sidelines.

Unbelievably, the absentee list doesn't end there. Shane McFaul and Ruben Zadkovich have both been called up for (young) international duty, so will be missing for both this afternoon's tie and next weekend's match at home to Bury.

So, a grand total of NINE absentees for poor old Ian Richardson to contend with. I bet it's times like these he's glad he wasn't given the managers job for next season.

All the absentees mean Richardson will be forced to make at least 3 changes to the side that drew Grimsby last weekend.

There is also likely to be at least one more alteration on top of those, with Glynn Hurst likely to be dropped after an alleged dressing room altercation led to the out-of-form hitman being substituted at half time last week.

Notts (probable): Deeney; Wilson, Baudet, Friars, Palmer; Pipe, Gill, Oakes; Stallard; Harrad, Scoffham.

Subs (from): Elliot, Hannigan, Thacker, Scully, Hurst, Bolland.