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Luton Town - For the first time this season, Luton have a few major injury doubts. Most seriously injured is centre-back and Player of the Season last year Marcus Heikkinen. Heikkinen picked up an ankle injury last week against Norwich City and had to be substituted. He is unlikely to be risked on Saturday as he hasn't trained with the rest of the squad this week. Chris Coyne will probably take his place in central defence in his first full game of the season. Steve Robinson is also probably out because of an ankle injury. He also hasn't been in training this week, and is more likely to miss Saturday's game than Marcus Heikkinen. The absence of Robinson could see a first start of the season handed to David Bell. Otherwise, Paul Underwood is still out and the only other doubts are Carlos Edwards and Lewis Emanuel, who are both likely to recover from injuries in time for tomorrow's game. Warren Feeney was a doubt for Northern Ireland's midweek game against Finland, but came off the bench to feature and so should start tomorrow.
Probable team - Beresford (GK), Davis (DL), Foley (DR), Barnett (DC), Coyne (capt) (DC), Emanuel (ML), Edwards (MR), Bell (MC), Langley (MC), Vine (SC), Feeney (SC)
Stoke City - Luton are not the only team with injury problems. Carl Hoefkens picked up an injury midweek in Belgium's friendly against Kazakhstan. Lewis Buxton and Marlon Broomes, who are possible replacements, are both injured. Danny Higginbotham may also miss out, meaning that Carl Dickinson is the only fit full-back at Stoke. Tony Pulis may be forced to change his formation or bring in a youth team player as a makeshift full-back. Also out are John Eustace, Kevin Harper Adam Rooney and Sam Bangoura, who turned up late for pre-season training this year. Stoke have had a respectable start to the season, and come to Kenilworth Road on the back of a good draw against Birmingham City and a very good 2-0 victory over Derby County. They have only let in one goal so far this season, against Southend United, but have struggled to score as well, getting just two goals. They did the double over Luton last season and have been a bit of a bogey team for us over the years. Luton haven't beaten Stoke for over ten years in the Championship as well.
Prediction
With our injury problems, Stoke's miserly defence, our poor record against the Potters and Vine and Feeney still struggling for goals up front, Luton may have problems tomorrow. On a positive note, Stoke also have injury problem's in defence and problems scoring, and so far this year, Luton have scored in every competitive match. Tomorrow's match is not one I'm particularly looking forward to, as there may not be many goals, but I think Luton can hopefully get a 1-0 victory. As no one in our team has scored more than once this season, I think that trend may continue, with Coyne scoring.