Exeter City player-manager Noel Blake could return to the front-line to lead his Grecian charges from the back at Bootham Crescent tomorrow.

With skipper Chris Curran currently serving a three-match suspension, Blake could be tempted to name himself in the heart of Exeter's five-man defence.

Former Leeds and Aston Villa defensive titan Blake, 39, has not played since picking up a thigh injury last month but is edging ever closer to fitness.

Joining Curran in the stands tomorrow will be ex-Arsenal striker Paul Reed and full-back Jon Ashton, who are also serving suspensions.

Softening the triple blow however will be the availability of wing-backs Graeme Power and Mark Rawlinson.

Both players sat out last Saturday's 0-0 draw at home to Macclesfield after serving one-match bans.

But now they are expected to return to the starting line-up tomorrow.

Christian Roberts, who has not scored since bagging two in the Minstermen's 3-1 defeat at St James Park back in September, is expected to partner Steve Flack up front meaning teenage striker Jamie Mudge, a debutant last week, will likely be on the bench.

Roberts underwent knee surgery at Christmas and is only now starting to show the sort of form that earned him the man of the match award against City five months ago.

The Grecians were given cause for optimism this week when chairman Ivor Doble pledged to lift the club's crippling transfer embargo - as soon as new technical assistant Steve Perryman asks.

The Grecians, unbeaten in their last outings but with just six points from a possible 39, have plunged to the foot of the Football League in the ten weeks since they were forced to borrow £65,000 from the Professional Footballers' Association.

A mystery benefactor has offered to clear City's debt to allow the club to re-enter the transfer market and improve their chances of beating the drop.

Updated: 13:14 Friday, February 16, 2001