STALYBRIDGE CELTIC face yet another tough fixture tomorrow (Saturday) when high flying Halifax Town visit Bower Fold for a National League North fixture.
They will have to take on the Shaymen without Bolton Wanderers loan duo Alex Honeyball and Callum Spooner who have been recalled due to an injury crisis at their parent club.
Joint-bosses Paul Phillips and Steve Halford have moved quickly to plug the gap, bringing in central defender Fraser Horsfall on loan from Huddersfield Town.
Skipper Matty Hughes is expected to return after recovering from the back injury that kept him out of the last five games. Danny Wisdom (ankle) is also available for selection.
Striker Chris Baguley, signed from Ashton United, is in line to make his Bower Fold debut as Celtic head towards fielding their 60th player of the season. Callum Bagshaw has been allowed to join Droylsden on a dual registration.
CURZON ASHTON have a clean bill of health following the sickness bug that laid low many members of the squad over Christmas. Manager John Flanagan, who was also a victim, takes a full complement to Tamworth.
In the Evo-stik NPL premier division, ASHTON UNITED will be looking to build on their Christmas victory over Warrington when Whitby Town visit Hurst Cross.
“That win’s put us in a good mood for tomorrow,” said co-manager Jody Banim. “We released players and made changes because we wanted to inject a bit of pace and movement into the team. We wanted people with the ability to press the opposition.”
Banim and partner Will Haining have a full squad to call on and have brought in young goalkeeper George Dorrington from Huddersfield Town as cover.
Richard Brannigan has left Ashton after parent club Macclesfield Town terminated his contract. Said Banim: “Chorley offered him virtually the same money so he couldn’t turn it down.
“We’re disappointed and we would have liked to know what was happening right from the start. But it is what it is.”
HYDE UNITED face a double blow ahead of their trip to Clitheroe in the first division north. The Tigers, who were unbeaten over Christmas with two wins and a draw, look likely to be without star striker Matt Beadle who suffered a deadleg in Monday’s victory over Glossop.
Winger Ryan White has been recalled by Bolton Wanderers. “He can’t play tomorrow but hopefully we’ll get him back somewhere down the line,” commented manager Darren Kelly.
Sam Fitton returns to the squad but it is likely to be another ten days before Ayrton Bevins regains fitness.
The Tigers have brought in winger Chris Sutherland from Macclesfield Town on a month’s loan, and are planning to announce another signing in the morning.
Attacking midfielder Joe Coffey, signed from Northwich Victoria, joins Callum Bagshaw in DROYLSDEN’s squad for their home game against Ossett Albion. There are no new injuries to add to long-term victims Shaq Clarke and Phil Clarke.
GLOSSOP NORTH END, shaken by their last-gasp defeat at Ewen Fields, could feature three new faces at home to Prescot Cables: defender Jonah O’Reilly from Skelmersdale, midfielder Paul Dugdale from Kendal, and Hyde United centre-back Adam Jones.
Nicky Platt misses the match through injury.
MOSSLEY are at full strength for their game at Colwyn Bay who have just appointed interim boss Phil Hadland as manager.