Cambridge United entertain Kidderminster Harriers on Saturday, looking to get back to winning ways following two defeats and a draw in the last three games, including Monday's televised defeat at Ebbsfleet following the first half sending-off of goalkeeper Danny Potter.

Despite our recent form and poor record against Kidderminster, the bookies have United as odds on favourites at 8/13, with Kidderminster 4/1 to win and the draw at 5/2, and as usual there is a wide range of other match odds offering great value. Click here for all the match odds.

Team News

Goalkeeper Danny Potter is suspended following his sending-off on Monday at Ebbsfleet and defender Mark Albrighton is suspended for the next two games after collecting his tenth yellow card of the season [article].

Mark Peters looks set to return to the starting line-up in place of Albrighton while Reading goalkeeper Alex McCarthy will deputise for Potter, making his second Blue Square Premier appearance after playing a game for Woking earlier this season [article].

"Alex comes highly recommended and at 6ft 4ins he's the right height, so he won't have to jump too far to catch the ball," joked Jimmy Quinn.

"The lads have already made Alex feel welcome and hopefully he'll do a good job for us because there's no pressure on him. With the experience we've got in the backline, I'm sure they'll help him as well."

There is good news from the treatment room as members of the 'ankle club' are returning to action. Danny Brown and Stephen Reed both made comeback appearances as second half substitutes at Ebbsfleet on Monday, and fellow midfielder Ben Farrell is set to join the squad for full training today after completing his rehabilitation for an ankle ligament injury.

Paul Carden missed Monday's game after his hamstring tightened up in training earlier in the day, and he will face a late test to see if he can return to the side tomorrow.

The reshuffle to the side saw Dan Gleeson take over the midfield holding role in a 4-3-3 formation that looked promising until Danny Potter was sent off after 27 minutes.

"We left Paul out as a precaution because if he'd pulled his hamstring he would have been out for the rest of the season," confirmed Quinn, "but we welcomed back Danny Brown and Stephen Reed for that game, which was good timing with Paul dropping out, and I thought Dan Gleeson did a good job for us in there and he was the pick of the bunch in midfield."

Quinn must decide whether to retain that 4-3-3 line-up or revert to the more usual 3-5-2 system that visiting managers have changed their own teams to combat in recent months.

"It's nice after having such a horrendous injury list to get one or two players coming back and giving us competition for places, and it's up to the players and their performances to stay in the team," said the manager, who allowed midfielder Mark Convery to leave on loan earlier this week.

"With people coming back from injury and Mark being frustrated at not playing, Weymouth came in for him this week due to the connection with Alan Lewer being there now, and Mark's gone there on loan to get some games," the manager explained.

"Weymouth will be playing a few of the teams around us in the table so they might do us a favour by beating them, and it will suit Mark to be out there playing games."

Long-time absentees Dan Chillingworth, Darren Quinton and Michael Hyem are still ruled out, and striker Lee McEvilly is also undergoing treatment for his recent ankle injury.

The Opposition

Kidderminster Harriers are currently 12th in the table on 53 points and they are in the middle of a testing run of five games in eleven days.

Their recent away form has been poor but they ended a run of five straight away defeats with their 4-0 win at Crawley Town on Thursday evening, while United have won four of the last six home games and need to return to winning ways to secure a play-off place as soon as possible.

Harriers boss Mark Yates made two loan signings on Thursday - Cheltenham centre half Michael Wylde and Plymouth defender/midfielder Jake Moult - and both could feature for the first time on Saturday.

Jimmy Quinn is an admirer of Yates and he expects his side to come to the Abbey on the attack.

"We haven't beaten Kidderminster for quite some time so let's change that one on Saturday. Mark has done a terrific job there and I have a lot of respect for him; he's a good manager and his team play in the right manner.

"There no such thing as a team with nothing to play for. Mark will tell his team he wants three points and they'll come here to have a go at us, that's how he plays."

Referring back to our previous meeting before Christmas, when United battered the home side but were unable to score, he added, "They were very lucky to beat us at their place before Christmas and I'm sure it will be another good game.

"But whether it's Kidderminster or anybody else, we need to get back on track and it would be nice to get three points. I think we're a couple of wins away from cementing a place in the play-offs and we need to get them on the board as soon as possible.

"There won't be too much of a team talk, it will be a case of just telling the lads to go out there and get three points for the fans."

More Information

Learn lots more about Kiddy in Doug Shulman's "The Other Side" preview, and if you fancy a bet on our match or any other event this weekend please follow this link to visit our official betting partners bet365 - the only place where your online betting makes money for the U's.

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