SCARBOROUGH manager Russell Slade has major problems as he faces up to his first game in charge tomorrow.

Visitors Farnborough impressed at the Shay last week by only going down by 2-1 to Halifax in the FA Cup and Slade knows that the Hampshire side is very strong at set pieces.

"We had them watched and know their strengths, but my problem at the moment is hoping that some of the irons I have got in the fire actually result in players joining the club."

Slade has lost Steve Brodie, who has joined Swansea and both Stuart Elliott and goalkeeper Andy Woods are missing through suspension. Add in the absences of top scorer Darryn Stamp and midfield man Gareth Stoker and Slade has a few shirts to fill.

New player-coach Mark Patterson will slot into midfield and it is was hoped that former Rushden and Diamonds'keeper Mark Smith would join the team in training today.

"I want to have two'keepers on the team-sheet because if I didn't it would be Sod's Law that we would get an injury in the first five minutes" added Slade.

Another man who should make his debut is Steve Baker, who has signed on loan from Middlesbrough and will play either in defence or midfield, depending upon how successful Slade is in his efforts to get players in today.

"It's quite likely that I won't know until tomorrow morning who is available to me, but I do know that whoever plays will give 100% for the club."

Boro: Newton, Baker, Rennison, Jones, Faure, Fitzsimmons, Blunt, Patterson, Atkinson, Pounder, Smith, Windross, Jewell, Henderson, Hogg, Swales, Crawford.

Updated: 11:17 Friday, November 23, 2001