DANNY SCHOFIELD, Andy Booth and Matt Young get the chance to impress ahead of Saturday’s League I derby against Oldham when Town Reserves take on Morecambe at the Galpharm tonight.

With manager Andy Ritchie confirming places are up for grabs after Sunday’s dismal 2-0 defeat at Doncaster, the trio will all start at the Galpharm (7.00) in what is the last of three Pontin’s Holidays League Cup group games.

Reserve coach John Dungworth will be looking for his charges to progress after earlier ties with Tranmere (won 1-0) and Chester (drew 1-1).

And Ritchie will be looking to see if Schofield, Booth or Young show sufficient sharpness to earn a place against John Sheridan’s Latics, who are three places and three points behind 16th-placed Town, having played two games fewer.

Ankle injury victim Schofield came on as a substitute at Doncaster but hasn’t started in seven matches.

Booth has found himself on the bench since Danny Cadamarteri came onto the scene, but with his side going two games without a goal, Ritchie could ring the changes up front as Town bid to refocus on playing matters in the wake of the off-field talk of a potential takeoever.

Industrious midfielder Young made his fourth start of the season at Walsall, but found himself left out of the 16 for only the second time at Doncaster.

Dungworth also confirmed that while teenage striker Daniel Broadbent, who will play alongside Booth against Morecambe, isn’t yet ready for first-team consideration, his form is being closely monitored.

“We’ve been pleased at the progress made by Dan who, for an 18-year-old, is showing a lot of maturity,” said coach Dungworth. “He’s playing consistently well in Academy matches, and now he needs a run of Reserve games. Playing against full-grown men will test him physically, and the pace is quicker, so it will be interesting to see him develop.”

First-year pro strikers Lucas Akins and Luke Malcher are recovering from ankle and back problems respectively.

Meanwhile injured captain Jon Worthington was today having a hydrocortisone injection in a bid to cure his nagging groin problem.

Reserves: Smithies; Racchi, Jackson, Franks, Killock; Young, Beckett, Bailey, Schofield, Booth, Broadbent. Subs: Roberts, Brook, Pickering plus two others.