Selection problems for Blackwell
Bury boss Kevin Blackwell is down to the bare bones ahead of Scunthorpe's visit to Gigg Lane in npower League One.
The Shakers' relegation was confirmed by a 1-0 defeat to local rivals Oldham on Saturday and Latics will hope the Iron fall short against Blackwell's men in order to boost their own survival hopes.
Any neighbourly gesture of goodwill will come from severely depleted ranks.
Cameron Belford lined up between the posts at the weekend and is set to start once more as regular number one Trevor Carson nurses a shoulder injury.
Valery Mezague may start having replaced on-loan Wolves youngster Ethan Ebanks-Landell (illness) at half-time against Oldham.
Andy Bishop is having a scan on a foot injury on Monday that looks set to end his season and fellow attacker Jonson Clarke-Harris' calf problem could mean a start for 17-year-old Tom Pratt, who made his senior debut on Saturday.
Defender Efe Sodje and forward Craig Fagan are both suspended while captain Steve Schumacher (hernia), winger Craig Jones (hamstring/thigh), midfielder Shane Byrne (blood infection) and defenders Phil Picken (knee) and Adam Lockwood (groin) are long-term absentees.
Scunthorpe striker Akpo Sodje could return to the starting line-up.
Sodje was named among the substitutes in the weekend draw with Walsall after shaking off an ankle injury, but stepped off the bench in the second half and manager Brian Laws hinted the 13-goal forward could be recalled.
But Laws is expected to be without Andy Barcham again after the winger missed out on Saturday due to a thigh strain.
Goalkeeper Sam Slocombe is pushing for his first start since the beginning of March after overcoming a thigh injury, but Norwegian Erik Johansen, on loan from Manchester City, is expected to continue.
The Iron, fourth from bottom, could climb out of the relegation zone with a first win in four matches if Oldham, one place and two points above them, lose at home to Yeovil.
Source: PA
