Following the draw at Scarborough last week when the home team grabbed a last minute equaliser in answer to Mark Jacksons earlier goal for us we seemed to have accrued a glut of injuries. The main doubt appears against the name of Iyseden Christie being on the team sheet for this home game against Southport.
He has had a re-emergence of the infection in his foot that kept him out of the game for most of last season. It's not known whether the plate has moved or just gone rusty but according to Stuart Watkiss, via the official website, he's responding well to the anti-biotics and looks likely to be pulling his blue boots on.
Michael Blackwood is a different matter and will probably be missing for the next couple of games following a hamstring injury that forced him to miss the game on the Yorkshire coast last week. Terry Fleming also missed that game due to the hospitalisation of his baby son but following the compassionate leave granted to him will play tomorrow.
Lee Thompson has a toe injury and is doubtful for the game and both Mark Jackson and Daryl Burgess picked up foot injuries against Scarborough but have now fully recovered and will be available.
Today Stuart Watkiss bought in yet another midfielder on loan when he signed Simon Heslop for a month from his former club Barnsley. The eighteen year old is highly rated by his parent club and is coming to us for first team practice but to be honest I just can't see what he's going to gain when we have experienced players like O'Connor, Fleming and Thompson already occupying his position. I would rather see a new striker or two but that has been promised by Wednesday.
Also added to the squad today was Daniel Ludlow, a youth team player. He's been signed on Conference terms for cover.
Southport will be without Neil Fitzhenry and Dominic Morley with knee injuries and have no suspensions.
Teams:
Harriers from:
Danby, Lewis, Hatswell, Burgess, Evans, Burton, Jackson, O'Connor, Ludlow, Fleming, Graves, Heslop, Hurren, Russell, Penn, Christie, Atieno, Hollis, Sheldon, Wilson, Thompson.
Southport from:
Dickinson, Speare, Baker, Booth, Daly, Davis, Fearns, Fitzgerald, Kilbane, Krief, Lane, Leadbetter, Lynch, McGinn, Pickford, McNutt, Powell, Robinson.