David Artell elected to rest a number of his first-team regulars last night in the hope that some may recover in time for the weekend trip to Grimsby. Artell rested his captain Chris Dagnall on the substitutes’ bench and he was unused in the club’s 2-1 defeat to an impressive Newcastle United Under-21 side in the first of our Checkatrade group matches.

The manager revealed afterwards that Eddie Nolan played through the pain barrier for the cause, but both Perry Ng and Chris Porter were not risked after picking up knocks against Port Vale. Ng has rolled over on his ankle and he joins fellow defender Michael Raynes on the sidelines, who has a similar injury.

Porter, who has already scored four goals this season in all competitions has a knee injury and Artel described the striker as a ‘doubt’ for the weekend trip to Blundell Park.  

David told us: “We have a few out with knocks. We have had to wrap some in cotton wool and give others a rest where we could.

“Perry has rolled his ankle and Chris Porter got a knock on his knee. At the moment they are rated as doubts for the weekend.

“Eddie was strapped up and went out and played, so he is another one we will have to assess as the week goes on.”