Steane back for Chasetown

Chasetown hope to welcome back midfielder Ben Steane for tomorrow's home clash with Barton Rovers.

Steane has been suffering from 'flu and missed the Boxing Day win over local rivals Rushall.

His place was taken by Scott Clamp and the new signing from Atherstone responded with an impressive display, leaving manager Charlie Blakemore with a selection dilemma for tomorrow.

"Ben has been absolutely fantastic over the last month to six weeks – different gravy," said player-coach Andy Turner.

"We missed his presence on Boxing Day, but we won and Scott was fantastic and looked as if he'd been playing for us for ages, so it's going to give us food for thought."

Keeper Lee Evans was also hit by the bug but managed to play against Rushall and should be fit.

The Scholars have used their FA Cup run to push on in the league, winning three in a row since they dumped Port Vale out of the competition.

But Turner acknowledges they have become a scalp and is expecting a tough test.

"Teams are going to be saying we're not concentrating on the league and might pull out of tackles, but we don't work like that and every player knows they have to play to their maximum or they will be out of the team," he said.

"Barton are a better team than they were last season and have better players.

"The former Bristol City striker Tony Thorpe and Zema Abbey, who was at Norwich, are both there scoring goals so they will pose a threat and we'll have to be at our best to win.

"We need to make it four wins on the bounce because we're playing catch-up in the league – we've got six games in hand on some teams."

Keeping a settled side during the Cup run has meant Blakemore is having to keep several new signing happy who haven't been involved.

Clamp and fellow new arrivals Nathan Lamey, Dave Woodvine and Todd Perry have barely played yet.

But things may change as the management look to keep players fresh with the big Cup tie against Cardiff just eight days away.

"We don't make many changes because if players are playing well and the results are going well, they keep the shirt," said Turner.

"But we have a squad and Charlie may change it around."