Head coach Martin Allen says "a couple" of Barnet players will undergo fitness tests prior to Saturday’s trip to Alfreton Town.

However, Charlie MacDonald was expected to return to training this week following a calf problem and David Stephens returns from suspension for the trip to Derbyshire.

Allen took in Alfreton’s goalless draw at home to Dartford – the Bees’ Bank Holiday Monday opponents – on Tuesday evening and reportedly claimed top-scorer John Akinde would miss the return to his former club.

Akinde was afforded a rest for the final half an hour of Saturday’s 5-0 win over Welling United but was not substituted due to injury. Allen has previous for releasing red herrings regarding injuries.

Speaking to the club site, he said: “We have got a few knocks that we are monitoring and there will be fitness tests on Saturday morning for a couple of our players so we can’t really do any work with anybody – we have just got to get prepared for the game and get ourselves ready.

“The players that have come into the team have done very well.

"We have used a lot of players throughout the week and I am pleased with the decision that we made to keep these players, stay loyal to these players and help these players to get better rather than bring people in and upset other players in our squad and disappoint people which other clubs have decided to do.”

Alfreton are currently unbeaten in six Conference fixtures – their best run of form this season. And Allen believes Nicky Law’s side, sat just outside the relegation zone in 20th position, will provide a stern test.

“They have only conceded one goal in six games which is a fantastic record,” stated Allen. “Nicky Law always manages to put together good teams on shoestring budgets – I don’t actually think that he gets the credit that he deserves.

“He is a very good manager and they are a good team – you don’t have that record in terms of goals against through being disorganised and undisciplined. They have conceded the fewest goals during the last six games of all the teams in this division and they were very unlucky the other night not to win.”

Allen added: “You can see how they haven’t conceded many goals. The goalkeeper is very strong, the back four are outstanding and they all work very hard together as a team to stop the opposition from scoring. They have got two outstanding centre-backs so it is going to be a very difficult game for us.”

Law has been without former Bee Dan Bradley for the last two games due to a virus and he could miss out again on Saturday. He is the Reds’ only potential absentee.

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