Frenchman Jeremy de Magalhaes, the 24-year-old central defender signed from FC Cannes, will make his Football League debut for Barnet away to Chester City tomorrow.
Paul Fairclough announced after Friday training that the 6ft 1ins tall defender will definitely start at Chester. de Magalhaes played in the pre-season friendly against Leeds United.
Who partners the newcomer will await a late test on skipper Ismail Yakubu, who was troubled on Friday by a hip flexor.
Yakubu and midfielder Max Porter, who twisted his right ankle during the morning training session, will both be assessed on Saturday morning.
Also lined up to make his debut for the Bees in the starting line-up is midfielder Paul Mitchell, whose signing from MK Dons on loan is reported separately by
www.barnetfc.com
Israeli goalkeeper Ran Kadoch, according to the manager, is "in line for his debut" but
Lee Harrison and
Rob Beckwith will also travel and a late decision will, be made.
"Lee Harrison did well against Brentford", Fairclough commented.
With on-loan Charlton left back Aswad Thomas continuing to deputise for the suspended
Kenny Gillet - who will be back for the visit to Dagenham & Redbridge on Tuesday in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy, - the Bees could have something of a New Look formation for the important game at Chester.
Paul Fairclough is still hopeful of bringing in a striker before the transfer window deadline on Monday.
But he is not pursuing his interest immediately in former Inter-Milan forward Loic Lumbilla Kandja, who came to Underhill this week to join the squad in training.
The manager said: "He is not ready yet ... perhaps he came in too late for us to properly assess him. I will look at him again later".
Footnote: Nicky Deverdics, recovering from a double hernia operation, has started running. He was asked to do six laps in six minutes on Friday .. and did seven and a half.Physiotherapist Mark Stein said: "We will 'up' his recovery programme from Monday".
Dennis Signy
