Barnet vs Newport County - Bees to check on Michael Nelson ahead of Newport clash

Barnet will check on defender Michael Nelson ahead of their Boxing Day encounter with Newport.

The 35-year-old was forced off with a dislocated shoulder as the Bees recorded a 4-2 victory over Crawley last weekend, and he will be monitored.

Boss Martin Allen will be without midfielder Nicky Bailey after he left the club by mutual consent on Wednesday.

Allen is unlikely to make wholesale changes to the side that tasted victory in the league for the first time since the end of October against the Reds on Saturday.

Midfielder Yan Klukowski and winger Nathan Ralph could both miss out for Newport.

Klukowski is still struggling with a hamstring injury while Ralph is recovering from a fractured cheekbone after a collision in training.

Exiles boss John Sheridan will be tempted to make changes after seeing his 20th-placed side throw away two-goal leads in successive games.

Seven-goal striker Scott Boden is an option for Sheridan, as well as full-backs Scott Barrow and Danny Holmes.