Macclesfield Town v Chester FC: Richards and Roberts to miss out, Shaw may come back

Chester FC have the chance to prove themselves genuine play-off contenders this evening when they travel to Macclesfield Town looking to extend their unbeaten run in the National League to nine games.

Jon McCarthy's Chester side salvaged a point at York City on Saturday as Kane Richards nodded home in injury time to earn a 1-1 draw.

But there will have to be a shuffling of the pack tonight by the Blues boss as he contends with injuries and suspensions ahead of the visit to Moss Rose.

Team news: Richards out, Lynch set for debut and a possible return for Shaw?

Richards was the hero at York on Saturday when he rose to meet Ryan Lloyd's inviting cross and head past Kyle Letheren to spar joyous scenes among the travelling Chester fans.

But minutes before he was shown a yellow card at Bootham Crescent, his fifth of the campaign, which rules him out of tonight's clash. He will be available for the visit of Lincoln City on Saturday.

Goalkeeper Liam Roberts suffered an injury late on at York and he could miss tonight's trip to face the Silkmen with new signing Alex Lynch set to make his bow for the Blues after joining the club from Bala Town earlier in the month.

Lynch isn't likely to be fazed by a late call-up to the squad having been thrown in at the deep end earlier in his career when he played in a Wembley play-off final for his former club Wycombe Wanderers.

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Midfielder Tom Shaw has been missing since coming off at half time in the 1-0 win at North Ferriby United at the start of the month and he could come into contention after coming through training unscathed this week.

There is also a chance that striker Oluwaseun Akintunde could make the bench.

Akintunde suffered concussion at Southport and had to observe a forced period of absence that saw him ruled out of the trip to York but he could just make it in time to feature tonight.

What about Macclesfield? Askey remains and Lewis is out

Macc sit just outside the play-offs in sixth spot following Saturday's 1-1 draw at Dagenham & Redbridge, a draw that extended their winless streak to three games.

Chester are four points behind the Silkmen and five off the play-offs and could narrow that gap this evening with three points but the hosts will be well aware that the Blues have been less than impressive on their travels this season.

Macclesfield manager John Askey (Image: Ratcliffe)

Manager John Askey had been heavily linked with the managers job at Wrexham, even being odds-on favourite last week, but he will be in the dugout at Moss Rose for the forseeable future after the Dragons handed Dean Keates the top job.

Macc will be without the services of influential midfielder Paul Lewis for this evening's clash after he picked up his fifth booking of the season at the Daggers on Saturday.