Debutant in defence as Reds face familiar faces

FC United could hand a debut to 18-year-old defender Jacob Wood tonight as they look to contain the Reds’ old strikeforce of Stuart Rudd and Rory Patterson at the Horsfall Stadium against Bradford Park Avenue without the suspended Adam Turner.

Turner is serving a ban carried over from last season after being sent off for the reserves which means Wood may become David Chadwick’s third partner at the back just six games into the campaign.

Manager Karl Marginson is not worried about the prospect of throwing Wood in at the deep end though as he believes his new signing, who spent two years at Stockport County as a youngster and has more recently played for Stalybridge Celtic, will cope with the situation if required to.

Margy said: "I’m looking forward to tonight. All our games against Bradford have provided a good tussle and I can’t see this one being any different. We’ll be looking to win this time though.

"Jerome (Wright) came through Saturday fine and Adam Carden will also be back pushing for a place in the team. Jacob Wood can play anywhere across the back four and he’s impressed in training and at Flixton last week so I’ll decide whether to put him straight in tonight."??

Liam Foster will face a late fitness test after being substituted just eight minutes into the game against Whitby, so Danny Self may continue at right back and Micah Bleu is also on standby as the Reds face Rudd and Patterson for the first time since the pair departed over the summer.

Margy will be hoping to outwit his old players on the pitch but he says there will be no bad feeling off it. He said: "I’ve not made any plans to meet up with them yet, but hopefully there’ll be time for a chat over a drink after the match. That’s as long as they’re paying - they can afford it after all."??