Coventry v Colchester preview
Last Updated: March 11, 2013 5:18pm
Leon Clarke: Faces fitness test on foot
Team news ahead of Tuesday's League One clash between Coventry and Colchester from the Ricoh Arena.
Leon Clarke is a major doubt for the Sky Blues' midweek home clash.
The striker bagged his 21st goal of the season to seal Saturday's 2-1 victory at Scunthorpe, for whom he registered 11 of those having spent the first half of the campaign on loan with the Iron prior to his January switch to Coventry.
Clarke subsequently left Glanford Park wearing a protective boot over his foot having taken a knock during the game and he will now be assessed ahead of the match against the U's.
Saturday's success came in boss Steven Pressley's first match at the helm following his appointment 24 hours earlier and he can now look forward to his first outing at the Ricoh Arena.
City have struggled for home form this season, winning just five times compared to a club-record 11 on their travels, and Pressley must reverse that trend if he is to have any chance of closing the five-point gap on the play-off places.
Defenders Richard Wood (groin) and Blair Adams (knee) as well as striker Stephen Elliott (knee) remain sidelined.
The visitors will be monitoring at least three players ahead of Tuesday's encounter.
Defender Tom Eastman picked up a knock early on in Saturday's 2-1 home defeat to Crewe and was subsequently forced off in the 17th minute.
Meanwhile, left-back Bradley Garmston and striker Freddie Sears (both knee) missed the game altogether and all three will be assessed to determine whether they have any chance of being involved.
One player definitely unavailable to boss Joe Dunne is striker Jabo Ibehre as he serves the second game of his three-match suspension.
New boy Michael Smith, who arrived on loan from Charlton on Friday, will be pushing for his full debut having impressed following his introduction from the bench in place of David Wright after just 34 minutes at the weekend due to tactical reasons.
Fellow loan signing Troy Hewitt is also striving to start having made his debut for the U's in the latter stages.
Matches
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npower League 1
Table
npower League 1
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Doncaster Rovers | 46 | 84 |
| 2 | Bournemouth | 46 | 83 |
| 3 | Brentford | 46 | 79 |
| 4 | Yeovil Town | 46 | 77 |
| 5 | Sheffield United | 46 | 75 |
| 6 | Swindon Town | 46 | 74 |
| 7 | Leyton Orient | 46 | 71 |
| 8 | Milton Keynes Dons | 46 | 70 |
| 9 | Walsall | 46 | 68 |
| 10 | Crawley Town | 46 | 68 |
| 11 | Tranmere Rovers | 46 | 67 |
| 12 | Notts County | 46 | 65 |
| 13 | Crewe Alexandra | 46 | 64 |
| 14 | Preston North End | 46 | 59 |
| 15 | Coventry City | 46 | 55 |
| 16 | Shrewsbury Town | 46 | 55 |
| 17 | Carlisle United | 46 | 55 |
| 18 | Stevenage | 46 | 54 |
| 19 | Oldham Athletic | 46 | 51 |
| 20 | Colchester United | 46 | 51 |
| 21 | Scunthorpe United | 46 | 48 |
| 22 | Bury | 46 | 41 |
| 23 | Hartlepool United | 46 | 41 |
| 24 | Portsmouth | 46 | 32 |
