Vossen set for Crown Ground debut

Last updated : 18 July 2015 By Tony Scholes
A first chance to see new signing Jelle Vossen

It looks as though the Stanley fixture is set to be a regular event again after a few years of it dropping off the calendar, particularly with Sean Dyche keen to play some of these games close to home.

All eyes will be on the two new signings I'd think, and one in particular. Matt Lowton is expected to play at right-back following his move from Villa to replace the gap left by Kieran Trippier's transfer to Spurs.

And, making his debut after international clearance was finally received is Jelle Vossen. With Danny Ings gone to Liverpool and Ashley Barnes set to miss most, if not all, of the 2015/16 season, Vossen has added to our forward options although Dyche has insisted that he should not be compared with Ings.

The manager will be looking forward to seeing him in action in what is a testimonial for Stanley's management pair of John Coleman and Jimmy Bell.

The Clarets' boss said: "I'm looking forward to the game and also for John Coleman. It's tremendous for him and he's been an amazing servant there. I thought he could have been manager of the year last year and I really meant it. With the challenge he has had there and I know some of it, he's done a great job.

"It's partly and that  and also to get the team there. We've tried to be local and we try and think about the games to keep the fans involved. We're looking forward to it and our fans getting a feel for it.

"It will only be a part though and a progression of where we've been. It's a case of getting players out there and getting them fit but it will still be taken properly as it always will."

Captain Jason Shackell remains under treatment for the calf injury that kept him out of the Étoile Carouge game eight days ago. He remains the subject of speculation regarding a potential return to Derby with it having been reported that we've now turned down a bid close to £3 million from our Championship rivals.

Michael Keane will also sit this one out. Because of his England under-21 duty he was given extra time off. He is, as Dyche would say, back in the building but the club have confirmed he won't be taking part in this game.

We'll select today from: Tom Heaton, Matt Lowton, Danny Lafferty, Michael Duff, Ben Mee, Sam Vokes, Jelle Vossen, Michael Kightly, Alex Cisak, David Jones, Matt Taylor, Luke O'Neill, Marvin Sordell, Lukas Jutkiewicz, Fredrik Ulvestad, George Boyd, Matt Gilks, Stephen Ward, Steven Hewitt, Tom Anderson, Scott Arfield, Cameron Dummigan.

Accy boss Coleman is looking forward to finally enjoying his testimonial game. "We've had some great games against Burnley and they've helped us out over the years," he said.

"The first time we were supposed to have our testimonial we had to put it on the back burner because the club was in financial difficulty and Burnley thankfully came to our aid with the SOS game which was much appreciated and a big reason why we are still here today.

"I have to thank them for that and I have to thank Sean for agreeing to bring his team this time. I asked him a few months ago and he readily obliged."

He's expecting a tough game too but added: "I'll still be unhappy if we don't win. That's how you have to be. It's what makes you as a manager and makes you as a person. We came in at half time against Nelson and I was going ballistic because we'd conceded a sloppy goal and it was 1-1.

"You've got to set yourselves high standards and you've got to aspire to reach those standards every time you play football."

Accy have played for pre-season games so far. A Stanley XI lost 4-3 at Colne before they were beaten 2-0 at home by Blackburn a week ago. This week they've won away games at AFC Darwen and Nelson.

Kick off this afternoon is 3 p.m. and is the second of our six pre- season games with fixtures against Rangers, Chesterfield, Fleetwood and Bradford City to follow.