Swindon v Crewe preview
Last Updated: August 5, 2011 2:44pm
Esajas: Injury delays Robins debut
Team news ahead of Saturday's League Two clash between Swindon Town and Crewe Alexandra at County Ground.
Swindon boss Paolo Di Canio will be without five of his summer signings as he prepares to make his eagerly-anticipated managerial debut.
First-choice goalkeeper Mattia Lanzano (side), defender Alessandro Cibocchi (ankle), winger Etienne Esajas (shoulder) and striker Mehdi Kerrouche (knee) are injured for the clash.
Defender Alberto Comazzi will also miss out due to a one-match suspension carried over from a game played in Italy.
As well as the quintet, reserve stopper Mark Scott (ankle) and young midfielder Abdul Said (knee) are sidelined.
Raffa De Vita and Alan Connell are Di Canio's only fit strikers for the encounter, with Uruguayan forward Nicolas Raimondi unavailable as he is only on trial.
Namibia international midfielder Oliver Risser will captain the club over the forthcoming campaign.
Dario Gradi has a full-strength squad at his disposal.
The veteran manager will have all options available to him after Carl Martin, AJ Leitch-Smith and Luke Murphy shook off minor knocks and illnesses.
Calvin Zola, Patrick Ada, Mat Mitchel-King, Danny Blanchett, Lewis Short, Ashley Westwood, Bartek Fogler, Joel Grant and Clayton Donaldson all left the club during the summer.
The only new face to arrive at Gresty Road was rookie goalkeeper Alan Martin, who initially joined the Alex for a two-week trial after being released by Leeds.
Martin is set for a place on the bench as the Railwaymen bid to spoil the party in what is Paolo Di Canio's first match as Swindon boss.
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Matches
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npower League 2
Table
npower League 2
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gillingham | 46 | 83 |
| 2 | Rotherham United | 46 | 79 |
| 3 | Port Vale | 46 | 78 |
| 4 | Burton Albion | 46 | 76 |
| 5 | Cheltenham Town | 46 | 75 |
| 6 | Northampton Town | 46 | 73 |
| 7 | Bradford City | 46 | 69 |
| 8 | Chesterfield | 46 | 67 |
| 9 | Oxford United | 46 | 65 |
| 10 | Exeter City | 46 | 64 |
| 11 | Southend United | 46 | 61 |
| 12 | Rochdale | 46 | 61 |
| 13 | Fleetwood Town | 46 | 60 |
| 14 | Bristol Rovers | 46 | 60 |
| 15 | Wycombe Wanderers | 46 | 60 |
| 16 | Morecambe | 46 | 58 |
| 17 | York City | 46 | 55 |
| 18 | Accrington Stanley | 46 | 54 |
| 19 | Torquay United | 46 | 53 |
| 20 | AFC Wimbledon | 46 | 53 |
| 21 | Plymouth Argyle | 46 | 52 |
| 22 | Dagenham & Redbridge | 46 | 51 |
| 23 | Barnet | 46 | 51 |
| 24 | Aldershot Town | 46 | 48 |
