Barton to run rule over Cod Army ‘statesmen’

Fleetwood boss Joey Barton will check on a couple of his “senior statesmen” ahead of the FA Cup third-round clash with AFC Wimbledon.

Barton has no major injury concerns to contend with but will monitor how his older players are feeling after the busy festive schedule.

Left-back James Husband will be available after extending his loan deal from Norwich until the end of the season, while midfielder Dean Marney is back after suspension.

Town, who have won five of their last seven home matches, have never reached the fourth round of the competition.

Wimbledon captain Deji Oshilaja is touch-and-go as he closes in on a month-long absence due to an ankle injury.

Manager Wally Downes said the defender will be fit for next weekend’s league game with Coventry if he does not feature at Fleetwood.

Joe Pigott (thigh) is still sidelined, while Rod McDonald is expected back in training next week and Tom Soares is struggling with a back problem, but Downes said the rest of his squad are fit.

The Dons are waiting on international clearance for winger Dylan Connolly, who joined from Dundalk on Thursday, while Egli Kaja will travel with the squad as he pushed for his first Dons appearance of the campaign. Keeper Aaron Ramsdale goes straight into the squad after joining on loan from Bournemouth.