Penney plans cup changes

Alex Marrow: Faces a fitness test after struggling with a back injury.

ATHLETIC manager Dave Penney anticipates making “three or four” changes to his line-up as he bids to plot a way into the hat for the second round draw of the FA Cup.

Leeds United stand in the way tomorrow night at Boundary Park (5.15pm kick-off) in what promises to be a game attracting a season-best crowd for the second week running.

Thousands more will watch Athletic take on the Coca-Cola Football League Two front-runners for free on the FA’s website, in a first-round clash in which Penney gives starting debuts to on-loan Crystal Palace pair goalkeeper Darryl Flahavan and left-back Lee Hills.

“It is something different, being live on the internet and with a live kick-off,” said Penney, who is searching for a third home win of the season in all competitions.

“Leeds United are a big club, the highest-ranked team in the competition and top of the league. It is a good game for us to have.

“They are flying, top of the league by seven points and have won their last two matches 4-0.

“It is going to be a tough game but with it being the FA Cup is a bit special, so we are looking forward to it.”

Penney is waiting on the fitness of on-loan Alex Marrow, who has been struggling with a back problem which caused him to miss last week’s home game against Huddersfield.

The midfielder has been given permission to play by Blackburn, but Nick Blackman, also on loan at Athletic from Rovers, hasn’t.

Chris Taylor could start after training all week without a recurrence of his hamstring problem, while Deane Smalley has had no adverse reaction following his first 90 minutes of the season on Sunday.

Goalkeeper Dean Brill, who has had a difficult time of things between the posts, is dropped to the bench to make way for Flahavan, while Hills fills in at left-back for Alan Sheehan, who has gone back to Leeds.

Penney chose not to extend the Irish defender’s loan to a third month at this time as he would not be eligible to play this weekend, nor in the home league game against United at the start of next month.

The second round draw is being shown on ITV1 on Sunday from 3.35pm.

Athletic (from): Flahavan, Holdsworth, Hazell, Gregan, Hills, Smalley, Whitaker, Furman, Colbeck, Abbott, Parker, Taylor, Marrow, Brill, Jacobson, Lee, Black, Brooke, Rowney.

Leeds United striker Tresor Kandol has had his three-match ban for violent conduct confirmed by the FA, following a post-match scuffle in last week’s 4-0 win over Yeovil.

Mike Grella and Enoch Showumni are likely to do battle to partner Jermaine Beckford up front, though there is a chance that Luciano Becchio, out since the start of October with an ankle injury, could be fit to return.

On-loan pair Sam Vokes and Max Gradel are ineligible.

Leeds (from): Ankergren, Naylor, Kisnorbo, Bromby, Doyle, Johnson, Hughes, Howson, Snodgrass, Beckford, Showumni, Martin, Kilkenny, Crowe, Prutton, Michalik, Grella, Becchio, Robinson, Somma.