Swindon V Tranmere at County Ground : Match Preview

20 December 2012 16:31
Swindon V Tranmere - view commentary, squad, and statistics of the game live.


Navarro back for Town

Swindon midfielder Alan Navarro is available to face his old club Tranmere on Friday night having been sidelined since October.

The 31-year-old, who spent four years at Prenton Park after moving from Liverpool, has not featured for Paolo Di Canio since he damaged his medial ligaments in the 2-2 draw with Coventry two months ago.

But he will hand his manager a real boost as the Italian prepares his side for the visit of the npower League One leaders to the County Ground.

Tommy Miller was introduced with seven minutes to go in the 2-0 win at Oldham having missed the whole of November through injury and the Scottish midfielder could be involved again.

Jay McEveley's knee surgery means he misses out once more with Joe Devera set to deputise again while striker Paul Benson has extended his loan spell with Portsmouth for a further month.

Tranmere have no new injury worries as they look to consolidate their position at the npower League One summit.

Ronnie Moore's side remain top on goal difference from Brentford despite failing to win any of their last five games - drawing four.

Captain James Wallace remains missing in midfield and is targeting a Boxing Day return from his medial knee ligament injury, while forward Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro (broken metatarsal) and winger Abdulai Bell-Baggie are sidelined until the new year.

On-loan Middlesbrough defender Ben Gibson has returned to Teesside for treatment on an abductor injury, although veteran centre-back Ian Goodison is set to continue having made a timely return to the starting XI from knee surgery over the past month.

"In the four games he's played we haven't lost since he's been in the side," Moore told Press Association Sport.

"At 40 years of ages he's in the twilight of his career but has fantastic experience. He's been great for us because before Goody was in the side, with Ben playing alongside Ash Taylor, the average age was about 21 or 22.

"Now, with him being 40 and Robbo in there at 32 it brings the age of the team up a little bit."


Source: PA