CHESTER FC could be without up to five first-team players for tonight’s Cheshire Senior Cup quarter-final tie at home to Tranmere Rovers (7.45pm).
Lee Trundle and Brendon Daniels are definitely ruled out while there are doubts over Scott Brown and Lewis and Nathan Turner.
Trundle and Daniels are ineligible. The former did not sign in time to take part in the last-eight clash while the latter is cup tied having already played in this season’s competition for Crewe Alexandra.
Brown is struggling with a back injury while the Turner twins, who are on loan from Leeds United, are waiting on permission to play from their parent club.
Chester boss Neil Young, whose Blue Square Bet North leaders were without a game at the weekend, still expects to select a strong side for a match he is looking forward to immensely.
Young lives close to Tranmere’s Prenton Park ground, his coaching staff includes two Rovers old boys in Gary Jones and Alex Hay, and he is good friends with Shaun Garnett, coach of Ronnie Moore’s promotion pushers.
Young, who will start with back-up goalkeeper Martin Fearon in net, said: “There are a lot of close ties between the clubs.
“Gary is a big legend there, Alex is well thought of there, we know a lot of their players and Shaun very well.
“Ronnie hasn’t got the biggest squad in the world and given they’re going for promotion, I’m sure they will be a mixture of reserves and lads who haven’t been playing in their first team.
“But it will be a strong side.”
The winners will host Witton Albion in the semi-finals.
For live updates from tonight’s match follow @PaulWheelock on Twitter.
