Under-18s preview: Lincoln City (A)

The Iron's Under-18s are due to return to Youth Alliance League action this Saturday for the first time in six weeks, when they make the journey to face Lincoln City (11am kick-off).

The game will be played at Riseholme College Showground Campus, Horncastle Lane, North Carlton, LN1 2ZR, and we'll have live coverage on the Academy Twitter site, in addition to a report and reaction from the fixture.

SCENE-SETTER

United were last in action a week prior to Christmas when they overhauled Doncaster Rovers 3-2 away from home courtesy of goals from Joey Dawson and Harry Jessop (two).

In beating Rovers, United defeated the league leaders to cut the deficit to just two points. The Iron also now have four games in hand to try to take advantage of, which would effectively give them a ten point lead over the local rivals should maximum points be gained.

Lincoln City come into the game sitting in seventh position following 13 games, of which they’ve won four. The Imps were defeated 2-0 at home by Chesterfield last weekend.

TEAM NEWS

Illness in the camp resulted in the postponement of last weekend's away fixture at Burton Albion, and also the Under-23s game away to West Bromwich Albion, in which a number of Under-18s players will have turned out, so the affected players will be assessed prior to the clash this weekend.

LAST LINE-UP: Collins, Baker, Lobley, Silva (Kemp, 85), Barks, Train, L Gallimore (Wilkinson, 90), Shrimpton (D Gallimore, 78), Jessop, Dawson, Chadli (Wilson, 85).

SUBS NOT USED: Balme.

OTHER FIXTURES IN THE YOUTH ALLIANCE LEAGUE NORTH EAST CONFERENCE

Bradford City v Mansfield Town (11am kick-off)
Chesterfield v Burton Albion (11am kick-off)
Huddersfield Town v Doncaster Rovers (11am kick-off)
Notts County v Grimsby Town (11am kick-off)