Exeter City manager Paul Tisdale has two players who are injury doubts for Saturday’s game with Lincoln City.
David Wheeler, who came off at half-time in the 1-1 draw away at Swindon Town last week, will face a late fitness test and Jordan Moore-Taylor is nursing a hip injury. Dean Moxey and Ryan Harley will also be missing.
“We’ve got a few doubts.” Tis said. “David Wheeler came off last week at half-time. Invariably when a player, someone who’s as robust as David comes off at half-time, you know there’s going to be a length of time of recovery.
“He will be a fitness test ahead of the weekend. Ryan Harley’s still not fit and Jordan Moore-Taylor’s nursing a hip injury. We’ve got two or three doubts as well as Dean Moxey who’s not back yet.”
“It’s a test for the squad,” added Tis. “It’s only been a couple of months but the squad already looks a little different than it did in the play-offs last year.
“It was long and deep and full of quality, the numbers have dwindled a little, a couple of injuries is going to challenge the squad. I have no reason to believe we’ll come up short and maybe you could say it’s a good time to play us, but I suppose we will find out when we see how the players play on Saturday.”
Lincoln City come to St James Park having drawn their opening two games of the season away at Wycombe Wanderers and at home to Morecambe.
And having got promoted out of the Conference, on 99 points, last season as well as reaching the quarter-finals of the FA Cup, Tis is expecting a strong challenge from Danny Cowley’s team.
“Last year speaks for itself doesn’t it,” said Tis. “Promotion and an FA Cup run that was fabulous, what a brilliant season.
“Danny and his brother have put together a really good team. Any team that’s come up from the league below, and have kept their team together, will all have some sort of momentum and strength coming into the season.
“I see them being a tough nut to crack and they’ll be full of optimism and rhythm and momentum and I think it will be a difficult game.
“However, we’ve got four points from the two games, I think it’s a pretty steady start and I think it’s about building confidence. You know last year we left it pretty late to get into that habit so the sooner we can get into it this year, the better.
“I think it’s been a very encouraging start, we’ve been competitive and yes we’ve conceded a goal, last week against Swindon, but we’ve been pretty tight at the back and we’ve had plenty of attacks so I’m pretty pleased.”