Friday 14th April 2000 : Early team news

Roy McFarland has no new injury worries ahead of tomorrow's vital, huge, key (take your pick of relevant adjectives) 'six pointer' at Cardiff City.

Player-coach John Taylor (right) has received intensive treatment for a thigh strain he picked up against Bristol Rovers and should be fit to take his place in an unchanged United side.

"It was a bit of a scare," Roy McFarland told the Cambridge Evening News. "John got a strain in the match against Bristol Rovers, but we gave him some tough tests in training, and he sailed through.

"With Lionel Perez, Scott Eustace and Paul Wanless, John gives us that backbone of strength and know-how which has been so important in the last few weeks."

Left-back Clive Wilson came safely through Monday's reserve game and has travelled with the squad, and teenage striker Dan Chillingworth has also travelled after some impressive performances for the youth and reserve teams.

"Dan has earned his place with his performances for the youth and reserve teams," McFarland said. "Nathan Lamey and Zema Abbey were disappointing against Norwich the other night, and now the kid is competing with them."

Striker Trevor Benjamin scored a club record eighth goal in successive matches against Bristol Rovers last Saturday and all eyes will be on the 21-year-old as he attempts to extend that astonishing feat.

For Cardiff, 'keeper Jon Hallworth is out for the rest of the season after breaking a finger at Preston on Saturday, and Seamus Kelly is expected to deputise. Midfielder Jason Fowler will also be missing after injuring his foot in mid-week action at Caernarfon, although Russell Perrett and Mike Ford are hoping to be fit after missing the FAW game. City are expected to start with Kurt Nogan and Kevin Nugent up front.

The Welsh side are currently four points adrift of the U's in 21st place but with a game in hand, so this match could hardly be bigger for either side.

"If we could win we'd go a long way to making sure of staying up," John Taylor told the CEN, "And that would give me as much satisfaction, in a different way, as winning promotion, considering we looked as good as relegated not so long ago."

McFarland added, "We are looking forward to it. We have a lot of character in the side, and there'll probably be more pressure on the home team. Cardiff need a win more than we do, but I'll be making sure everybody knows we mustn't go there with the attitude that not losing will be enough. We've won three of our last six away games and can play with confidence."