LOAN signing Leon Knight trained with his new colleagues for the first time today as buoyant Town prepared for their McAlpine clash with resurgent Wrexham.

The Chelsea 19-year-old made an immediate impact as Town crushed Northampton 3-0 at Sixfields on Tuesday and manager Lou Macari is hoping he can maintain that form in a home debut on Saturday.

Town - who consulted prospective chairman David Taylor for his approval on Knight's signing before it went through - face Denis Smith's side twice in four days and have Gareth Evans (hamstring) and Kenny Irons (groin) pressing to return.

They suffered a setback yesterday, however, when midfielder Chris Beech had to withdraw before the Reserves 3-1 defeat to Bury in the Avon Insurance League Cup because he was suffering Achilles trouble.

The fact that consortium leader Mr Taylor was asked about Knight suggests the takeover can't be too far away, and Macari was keen to get the nippy striker involved at Storthes Hall today.

"It will be a good opportunity for us to see what Leon is all about after he made a very pleasing start against Northampton the other night," said Macari today.

"He went into the game without having met any of the lads, but he provided us with the spark which we thought he would and certainly did his bit in what was a very good team performance.

"You always find out a lot more about players, though, when you have them training with you daily and it will be good to have Leon involved for the next couple of days before the Wrexham game."

Town, of course, travel to Wrexham's Racecourse Ground next Tuesday in the LDV Vans Trophy second round but, more importantly before then, Macari is hoping to put three League points on the board against a side with three wins and a draw since Smith took charge.

Macari is delighted Knight's arrival has freed joint leading scorer Danny Schofield to play on the left wing.

"I coached Danny for a year in the Reserves and he has done exceptionally well in that position," explained Macari.

"Just like Leon with his pace through the middle, Danny gives us something different out there and it's definitely where he plays the best.

"He has the stamina to get up and down the pitch, so that's no problem to him, and he is a very tricky customer going forward, as we know.

"He is quite capable of creating chances, too, as he showed the other night and, when he gets in the box, he has the ability to score, even though his finishing is not as clinical as it could be."

Beech's injury is a blow when the 27-year-old had his first senior run-out in over a month as a late substitute against Northampton.

His Achilles became swollen yesterday when the Reserves were kicking-in at Radcliffe Borough's Stainton Park and, while he could walk without any problem, there was no way he could take part in the match on a sticky surface (Paul Macari scored Town's goal).

Irons and Evans are rated "touch and go" for Saturday's match, in which Andy Booth has been elevated to 5-1 favourite to score the first goal by bookmakers Coral, following his midweek hat trick.

Jon Dyson could come into contention this weekend after completing 90 minutes yesterday and looking much sharper.