ACCRINGTON STANLEY boss John Coleman is hoping the weekend off will help his side clear up their injury problems.

Stanley have been handed a free Saturday after getting knocked out of the FA Trophy but it could be a blessing in disguise.

Andy Gouck, Andy Procter, Ged Brannan, Gordon Armstrong and Steve Flitcroft should all have recovered in time for their next game - the Lancashire FA Marsden Cup quarter-final on Tuesday night (ko 7.45pm).

The game at UniBond side Bamber Bridge was postponed last Tuesday because of the weather but Stanley will be hoping to join Radcliffe Borough and Morecambe in the semi-finals with Chorley and Leigh battling it out in the other quarter-final.

"We have got a few injuries and hopefully it gives us some extra time to get rid of them. It is the time of year when injuries and suspensions start to kick in," said the Reds chief.

Meanwhile chairman Eric Whalley and the manager have been called before the FA Disciplinary Committee about Accrington's poor disciplinary record. They will attend a meeting in Manchester on Tuesday, 17 February.

"I guess they will tell us it has to improve - and it has!" said the chairman.

The Reds have had 10 sendings off this season and have been shown more than 60 yellow cards.

  • THERE will be a Fans Forum in the Stanley Sports Bar on Thursday 5 February, starting at 8pm.

A panel including the chairman and manager will be taking questions from supporters. Everyone is welcome.

  • STANLEY'S Under 18 side lost their LFA Youth Cup quarter-final tie against the Lancashire Football Association side 1-0 on Monday night.
  • THE reserve game against Barrow on Wednesday was called off - as the Observer went to press, no reserve matches had been arranged for next week.
  • ENGLAND NATIONAL GAME XI FULL SQUAD:

Jon Kennedy (gk) (Stanley), James Bittner (gk) (Exeter City), Anthony Charles (Farnborough Town ), David Perkins (Morecambe ), Jon Boardman (Woking), Danny Collins (Chester City), Peter Cavanagh (Stanley), Gareth Sheldon (Exeter City), Sam Ricketts (Telford United), Adam Miller (Aldershot Town), Scott Kerr (Scarborough), Robert Purdie (Hereford United), Luke Rodgers (Shrewsbury Town), Roscoe D'Sane (Aldershot Town), Karl Murray (Woking), James Coppinger (Exeter City).