Forces2Canaries

Huddersfield will be without suspended on-loan striker Nathan Eccleston for the clash against league leaders Norwich.

The Liverpool teenager starts a three-game ban following his dismissal in last week’s defeat at Gillingham, but manager Lee Clark has plenty of options with Gary Roberts, Theo Robinson and Robbie Simpson all desperate to return to the starting line-up.

Clark, who spent two years as assistant to former Norwich boss Glenn Roeder at Carrow Road before taking charge of Town, could also hand a recall to defender Lee Peltier, who has missed the last two games due to an ankle injury.

Otherwise, the Terriers boss has no new injury or suspension worries as his side look to make up lost ground on the top six following back-to-back league defeats.

Norwich have midfielder Darel Russell back in contention for the encounter.

Russell has sat out the last three games through suspension after he was sent off against Southampton last month and now faces a battle to get back into Paul Lambert’s side.

The Canaries won all three games without him to go four points clear at the top and Russell may have to make do with a place on the bench.

Left-back Adam Drury played for an hour for the reserves earlier this week as he recovers from a thigh injury and will travel with the squad.

But centre-half Zak Whitbread (calf) and striker Cody McDonald (thigh) are still out as Lambert’s side look for yet another victory.

Stephen Elliott will go straight into the Norwich squad after signing on loan from Preston.

The Republic of Ireland striker is down the pecking order at Deepdale and has joined the Canaries` promotion push for the rest of the season.

He is likely to have to settle for a place on the bench, although manager Paul Lambert could be tempted to rest Chris Martin, who has looked out of sorts in recent games.

Should that be the case then Oli Johnson is likely to start alongside leading goalscorer Grant Holt.

Midfielder Darel Russell completes his three-game suspension while Zak Whitbread (calf) and Adam Drury (thigh) remain sidelined although the latter did return to training this week.

Cody McDonald, who this week had his contract extended until the summer of 2012, is also absent with a thigh strain.

Yeovil manager Terry Skiverton will be hoping to name an unchanged side after back-to-back wins.

Those wins have lifted the Glovers to 12th, nine points clear of fourth-from-bottom Oldham and Skiverton will be keen to keep faith with his players.

He is sweating on the fitness of striker Dean Bowditch (hamstring), who was substituted in the second half of last Saturday’s 1-0 home win over MK Dons as a precaution.

Ryan Mason was introduced from the bench as Bowditch’s replacement and could be handed a start should the former Ipswich man not make it.

On-loan Brighton attacking midfielder Arron Davies is expected to keep his place in midfield after replacing Owain Tudur Jones, who was on loan at Yeovil from the Canaries before returning to Carrow Road.

Oldham boss Dave Penney will assess the fitness of Jim Goodwin ahead of the home clash with leaders Norwich.

The on-loan Huddersfield midfielder has missed the last two games due to a thigh strain and could remain sidelined.

Penney is still missing a number of long-term injury absentees, including Andy Holdsworth, Rob Purdie and Jon Worthington

Millwall striker Jason Price’s one-month loan with Oldham is set to finish after this weekend’s game but an extension looks certain to be agreed early next week.

The Latics lie fourth bottom in League One and are facing the dismal prospect of a relegation dogfight unless results improve quickly.

Penney said: “We haven’t looked like scoring enough goals and we need to put that right if we’re going to start winning games.”

Forward Oli Johnson could be set for just his second start for Norwich.

Johnson came off the bench to score two late goals against Southend on Tuesday night and rescue a 2-1 win for Paul Lambert’s League One leaders and is in contention to make a rare start.

Winger Anthony McNamee could also keep his place after making his first start since joining from Swindon in midweek but midfielder Darel Russell is out as he serves the second of a three-game suspension.

Defenders Jens Berthel Askou (foot), Adam Drury (thigh) and Zak Whitbread (calf) remain sidelined along with striker Cody McDonald (thigh).

A win could stretch the Canaries’ lead to six points over Leeds, who face Huddersfield in a lunchtime kick-off.

Norwich manager Paul Lambert will have to wait on news of Darel Russell’s appeal before naming the squad to face Southend.

Russell was shown a straight red card during the 2-0 defeat to Southampton at the weekend for a high challenge but the Canaries have appealed the decision to the Football Association.

Russell will hear on Tuesday afternoon if the card has been rescinded – making him available – but if the decision is upheld and the appeal deemed frivolous the midfielder could start a four-game ban.

Stephen Hughes is a likely replacement should Russell miss out as the League One leaders look for a win to keep clear of Leeds.

Defender Jens Berthel Askou is fit after a foot injury and may come into contention but left-back Adam Drury remains out with his thigh injury.

Zak Whitbread (calf) and striker Cody McDonald (thigh) are also missing.

Matt Paterson could be recalled to Southend’s starting line-up.

The striker came off the bench to score his first goal for the Shrimpers in Saturday’s 3-1 defeat at MK Dons and could be rewarded with a starting berth.

On-loan winger Sanchez Watt came through 90 minutes against Paul Ince’s side after recovering from a sprained ankle and will hope to keep his place in the side.

Shrimpers boss Steve Tilson could recall left-back Scott Malone and midfielder Franck Moussa after the duo were left on the bench at the weekend.

Anthony Grant (ankle) and Stuart O’Keefe (hernia) will not be in contention to face the Canaries as relegation-threatened United look to end a dismal run of seven games without a win.

Norwich manager Paul Lambert will select from the same squad for the visit of Johnstone`s Paint Trophy finalists Southampton to Carrow Road.

Defender Adam Drury and striker Cody McDonald (both thigh) and centre-half Zak Whitbread (calf) remain sidelined.

Jens Berthel Askou (broken metatarsal) and Michael Spillane (hamstring) completed 90 minutes of the reserves` 1-0 win over Luton on Wednesday but Lambert feels they are not yet ready to return to first-team action.

Captain Grant Holt returned from a three-game suspension with a goal in the 2-1 win at Brighton last Saturday and will again be partnered by Chris Martin in attack – the pair having contributed 43 goals this season.

The Canaries, who have won nine of their last 10 games, are looking to extend their club-record of 11 straight victories at Carrow Road in a season, with the game yet another sell-out.

Southampton welcome back Jose Fonte, Dan Seaborne, Jon Otsemebor and Jason Puncheon.

Fonte was cup-tied for last Saturday’s FA Cup defeat by neighbours Portsmouth along with fellow defenders Seaborne and Otsemebor and winger Puncheon, who were also ineligible for the previous game against MK Dons in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy.

All four could go straight into manager Alan Pardew’s starting line-up.

Striker David Connolly misses out again with the groin injury which has sidelined him since the turn of the year but he could be back the following weekend at home to Walsall.

But veteran defender Graeme Murty will struggle to play again this season after ankle surgery this week.