ACCRINGTON STANLEY boss John Coleman is hoping to see top scorer Paul Mullin back in the side for tomorrow's FA Umbro Trophy game at home to Altrincham.

But the Reds' hitman - who has scored 17 goals in just 20 starts this season - reckons he may have a job getting back in the side - his replacement Simon Carden has scored five goals in the last two games!

"He is a good player," said 27-year-old Mullin, who has missed the last three games with an ankle injury.

"I think when he started off at Stockport he was a striker so he knows where the net is.

"If I am fit I may have to start on the bench!"

Mullin will have a fitness test tomorrow morning.

"It is the ligaments that are the problem," he said. "The swelling has gone down but I am still having a problem turning."

Tomorrow's match comes just four days after Altrincham's extra time win over Lancaster in the FA Cup first round, but Reds boss John Coleman doesn't think that will affect the side.

"They will have some tired legs but so will we after the game against Rossendale on Tuesday night on a heavy pitch," he said.

"They had a terrific result on Tuesday and it will have been a hard game but they will be up for tomorrow's tie as well.

"They will want to carry on winning, especially in the cup competitions.

"And at this level you tend to go on adrenaline anyway."

Coleman is also hoping to have Dave Robinson and Peter Cavanagh back after injury. Both missed Tuesday's win over Rossendale, which was marred by the late sending off of Lutel James.

"I thought it was harsh and now we will lose him for three games.

"He reacted to a bad challenge by pushing the lad but there was an incident in the first half when someone rasied their arms to Steve Hollis and the referee only booked him.

"If he had been consistent and sent both players off then I would have been happier.

"The tackle on Lutel was worthy itself of a red card but he only got booked."

Stanley won the game 2-1 thanks to goals from Carden and Jonathan Smith.

"I was pleased with the result," said Coleman. "In spells we played really well then in others we were poor."

Paul Howarth was stretchered off but Coleman said he hoped the injury wasn't as bad as it first seemed. "The ambulance came but he didn't go to hospital. The paramedics didn't think he had broken it."