United's Under-18s were without a game last weekend as the match away at Burton Albion was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch at St George's Park.

 

They come into the game, though, off the back of two straight defeats for the first time since August, so will be looking to get back on track against the Spireites.

 

Raynner Silva was the goalscorer last time out against Bradford City, but the opposition got themselves two goals to win the fixture 2-1.

Following postponements and the youth players being required for Under-23s games, the Iron have slipped away from league leaders Doncaster Rovers and now find themselves in third position with three games in hand.

They're currently ten points behind. Bradford are second on 25 points, the same as Scunthorpe, but have played two games more. A win for the Iron would keep the mathematical pressure on the top side, who face seventh-placed Notts County - the side United face next.

 

Chesterfield come into the game tenth out of 11 with 18 points from 16 games. The only side below them, Burton Albion, are two points behind with three games in hand.

 

 

A number of Under-18s players featured in midweek in the Under-23s game at Doncaster Rovers in the Central League, with all of those players coming through the extra minutes to return to the academy side this weekend.

 

Aidan Train pulled out in the warm-up of the Mansfield Town Under-18s match a couple of weeks ago, and did not feature last time out, while Oliver Kemp came off with concussion in the same game. The latter did play 90 minutes at right-back against Rovers on Monday though.

 

The last youth game, against Bradford City, saw a number of players out of action featuring just 24 hours earlier for the Under-23s at Whitley Park. Barks, Fin Shrimpton and Harry Baker were the starters at the Magpies, while others travelled, subsequently seeing all but Barks missing for the match.

Tom Collins should return to the line-up after missing the last couple of games due to playing for the Under-23s - a knock on effect of Ian Lawlor's injury which has seen Adam Kelsey on the first team bench. Kelsey has returned to the Under-23s line-up, while Collins himself has struggled through injury also, so will be monitored. With first-year goalkeeper Ben Crosher still working his way back to fitness following a fractured wrist sustained in pre-season, Under-16s 'keeper Jake Balme has recently deputised.

Elsewhere, a number of Under-16s players filtered into the team last time out and are likely to be seen more frequently as the remainder of the season progresses, even if it is to supplement the substitutes' bench.

LAST LINE-UP: Balme, D Gallimore, Lobley, Franklin (Moore-Billam, 45), Barks, Young, Wilson (Farmer, 72), Silva, Wilkinson, Virgo, Chadli (Lewis, 82).

SUBS NOT USED: Collins, Jessop.

 

 

Bradford City v Grimsby Town (11am)
Doncaster Rovers v Notts County (11am)
Mansfield Town v Rotherham United (11am)