Burton v Portsmouth preview

Team news for Saturday's League Two clash between Burton Albion and Portsmouth at the Pirelli Stadium.

The Brewers will be without the suspended Ian Sharps for this weekend's home tie. Sharps was sent off as Albion lost 2-0 at home to Oxford last weekend and he must serve a three-match ban but new signing Jordan Pickford looks set to be involved having rejoined on loan from Sunderland. With Zander Diamond only just returning from a foot injury - he got his first action of the season under his belt in a behind-closed-doors friendly on Monday afternoon - there is a strong possibility that summer signing Phil Edwards will start his first game at centre-half since joining the club. Midfielder Alex McDonald and striker Billy Kee continue to nurse calf and thigh problems respectively. Pompey, meanwhile, will check on Tom Craddock ahead of the trip to Staffordshire. The summer signing from Oxford was expected to be out for around a fortnight with the knee injury he suffered in training late last week, but he has responded well to treatment and should travel with the squad. Fellow striker David Connolly misses out again, however, as he completes a three-match ban for his red card against Chesterfield last month. Defender Marcos Painter is fit after three weeks out with a hamstring injury and should start at left-back.