Kelly Youga has been handed his Crawley Town debut away to Scunthorpe United today.

The former Charlton defender will line-up at centre-back alongside Sonny Bradley at Glanford Park.

Youga, 29, joined Crawley at the end of March after a spell playing in China but had to wait for international clearance.

He gets his chance today with the Reds short in defence after losing three centre-backs in just over a week.

Darren Ward has been sidelined by a foot injury that was initially expected to keep him out for the season and his replacement in the Good Friday draw at Crewe, Dean Leacock, suffered a recurrence of groin trouble that had kept him out since Boxing Day.

To compound the problems, Richard Wood was recalled early from his loan spell by Rotherham on Thursday.

Youga had a loan spell at today's opponents Scunthorpe in 2007-08.

With midfielder Anthony Wordsworth completing a two-match ban today and Josh Simpson still sidelined along with Conor Henderson, Crawley’s numbers are stretched.

Matt Harrold, who was recalled from a loan spell at Cambridge United on Friday, is among the substitutes.

It is important day in the fight for survival in League One with the bottom eight playing each other. Coventry host Colchester, Crewe welcome Leyton Orient and Notts County go to Yeovil.

Crawley: Jensen; Oyebanjo, Youga, Bradley, Dickson; Tomlin, Fowler, Elliott, Young; Morgan; McLeod. Subs: Bawling, Smith, Edwards, Cofie, Pogba, Harrold, Price.

Scunthorpe: Daniels; Clarke, Canavan, Davey, Williams; Osbourne, Bishop; Madden, McSheffrey, Robinson; van Veen. Subs: Syers, Evans, Adelakun, Townsend, Boyce, Lundstram, Anyon.