NEW Grimsby Town boss Paul Groves will be looking to extend his unbeaten start to his managerial career tomorrow.

The 35-year-old defender stepped into the Blundell Park hot-seat just seven days ago following the departure of Lennie Lawrence.

His first game in charge, last Saturday, saw Grimsby record their first League win in ten games and only their second in 22 outings with a 3-1 triumph at home to Portsmouth.

On New Year's Day, the struggling Mariners then bagged a point following a 0-0 stalemate at improving Barnsley.

However, as Groves now plots to maintain Grimsby's fine cup form this season - they knocked holders Liverpool out of this season's Worthington Cup - the new Grimsby chief has a stack of injury worries to contend with.

Against Barnsley, he had just 12 season players to select from.

Definitely ruled out tomorrow is former City midfield maverick Alan Pouton, who, as reported in the Evening Press, is recovering from a broken ankle.

Home grown talent Jonny Rowan, 20, who has bagged five goals this season, is nursing a back problem and is not expected to figure.

Also on the sidelines is the club's longest serving player and new club captain John McDermott, who has been out since October with a calf injury and will not return for another three weeks.

Former Coventry City striker Steve Livingstone will be another absentee having undergone a knee operation while one time England Under-21 international Bradley Allen will also be missing with a calf problem.

However, there could be some good news for Groves with right-back Alan Neilson poised to return to the squad.

Neilson missed the game against Barnsley with a hamstring niggle but is expected to come into contention tomorrow.

Also in contention for a starting berth is Stuart Campbell, a £200,000 acquisition from Leicester City in the summer who has been out for six weeks with ankle ligament trouble.

Campbell was on the bench for the game at Oakwell and could come into the midfield if Groves decides to revert to a 4-4-2 formation from 5-3-2.

Alternatively, he could be pushed up front in a straight swap for the inexperienced Chris Thompson.

The 20-year-old Thompson, released by Liverpool at the end of last season despite finishing as the Reds' reserve team top scorer, has started alongside Phil Jevons in Grimsby's last three outings but could be rested tomorrow.

Updated: 12:00 Friday, January 04, 2002