Former Cardiff City player Curtis McDonald returns to the Merthyr Town team for their Southern League trip to play Kettering Town on Saturday (3pm).
Defender McDonald is likely to slot straight back into Merthyr’s back four as they set out to maintain their Premier Division promotion bid, while striker Ian Traylor is available.
Taylor would have missed the home match against Hitchin Town, but that was postponed because the Penydarren Park pitch was frozen.
The Martyrs, who are fourth, now face a tough test agains a Kettering team intent on making a big push to claim a place in the play-offs.
Kettering are nine points outside the play-offs and know their clash with Merthyr at Latimer Park (3pm) is crucial to their hopes of closing that gap.
Manager Marcus Law was delighted with his Kettering team during their midweek match against League leaders Leamington and they led 1-0 thanks to a Nathan Hicks penalty when the match was abandoned due to a power failure.
“If the players carry out their roles and responsibilities in the same way for the rest of the season then there won’t be many teams who can live with them,” says Law.
“We certainly have to stay at the same level for the next two home games (v Merthyr and Frome Town).”
Aaron O’Connor missed Tuesday’s game due to a hamstring injury and will be assessed before the clash with Merthyr, while Paul Malone will miss out as he recovers from a gallstones operation.
The Martyrs have rearranged their home fixture against Hitchin for Tuesday, February 21.
After their trip to Kettering on Saturday, Merthyr welcome King’s Lynn Town, Banbury United and Redditch United for three consecutive home fixtures.
Merthyr’s home matches in January and February are: v King’s Lynn Town (Tuesday, January 24, 7.45pm), v Banbury United (Saturday, January 28, 3pm), v Redditch United (Tuesday, January 31, 7.45pm), v Chesham United (Saturday, February 11, 3pm); v Hitchin Town (Tuesday, February 21, 7.45pm), v Frome Town (Saturday, February 25, 3pm).
For information about available hospitality packages for Merthyr home fixtures contact Philip Jones at [email protected]
