Doubts over Holmes and Sharps for Magpies clash

Mark Robins faces uncertainty over his starting line-up for this weekend's match against Notts County, with the Star reporting injury doubts hanging over the participation of Ian Sharps and Derek Holmes.

Sharps suffered a hamstring injury in the Johnson's Paint Trophy win over Mansfield and missed the home defeat to Darlington and last week's win over Wrexham. Holmes picked up a groin strain in the game in North Wales.

Neither are ruled out and Robins is hopeful that Sharps, in particular, will be fit. However, the Millers' boss told the Star that the big central defender will not be rushed back in to action. "He'll only come back when he's ready and right," said Robins. "That might be this weekend but if we have to wait longer then we'll do that."

If Sharps fails to recover in time, Marc Joseph will, presumably, continue to deputise in the heart of the defence. If Holmes is ruled out, Chris O'Grady looks likely to return to the first team after scoring the winner at Wrexham, although both Ryan Taylor and Tom Cahill pushed their cases for inclusion in the first team, scoring a goal each in the reserve's 2-1 win over Hull yesterday.