Conor Henderson has been handed a surprise start for Crawley just two days after being placed on the transfer list.

The midfielder was one of five players told they could leave the club on Thursday but is recalled for the game at Oldham Athletic.

Lewis Young and Brian Jensen are also included in the substitutes’ bench but Matt Harrold and Josh Simpson – the other two on the transfer list - are ruled out through injury.

Henderson comes in for the suspended Izale McLeod with boss John Gregory reverting to fielding a lone striker and six players in midfield.

The other change from the 2-1 defeat to Gillingham on Tuesday night sees Dean Leacock return from suspension in place of the injured Lanre Oyebanjo.

Gavin Tomlin has recovered from a hamstring injury picked up against Gillingham to play up front on his own with Henderson and Gwion Edwards expected to operate just behind him.

Academy graduates Ryan Richefond and Bradley Isaacs are both on the bench along with Emmett O’Connor who returns from a nine week injury lay-off. Despite their inclusion Crawley are only able to name six substitutes which highlights the lack of options available to Gregory.

Oldham include former Reds midfielder Mike Jones and ex-loanee Jonathan Forte in their side as they bid to stretch an impressive run of just one defeat in 12 games.

Oldham (4-1-2-1-2): Rachubka; B Wilson, Dieng, J Wilson, Mills; Kelly; Jones, Johnson; Philliskirk; Ibehre, Forte. Subs: Etheridge, Winchester, Tidser, Dayton, Poleon, Turner, Lockwood.

Crawley (3-4-2-1): Ashdown; Leacock, Bradley, Walsh; Bawling, Keane, Smith, Dickson; Henderson, Edwards, Tomlin. Subs: Jensen, Young, O’Connor, Banya, Richefond, Isaacs.