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Lee Novak
EFL Goals/Games: 1/0
Now in his 30’s, the 6ft centre forward has been The Iron’s top scorer for the past few seasons term and, as a Geordie, will have extra reason to want to derail Sunderland’s Leasing.com Trophy hopes this evening.
Graduating from Wallsend Boys Club, Novak has consistently scored goals in League One for over a decade, hitting double figures for the likes of Huddersfield Town and Chesterfield, and whilst Scunthorpe have struggled in League Two this season, he’s still managed to score three goals in nine games.
He’s burly and he’s strong, but perhaps most importantly he’s a very good finisher - he doesn’t need too many chances before the ball nestles into the back of the opponent’s net.
Rory McArdle
EFL Goals/Games: 1/0
The Northern Irish centre back is an experienced head in defence for Scunny and, as their skipper, he’ll be the man trying nullify Sunderland’s forward line.
McArdle spent five seasons at under the management of Phil Parkinson at Bradford City and won their player of the year in 2015, whilst also being a huge part of their 2013 League Cup run which saw them get all the way to Wembley.
He’s tall at 6’1, strong, and excellent in the air at both ends of the pitch. He’ll certainly use his experience to try to snuff out any Black Cats threats, so making sure we get the better of the defender will be paramount to the Lads bringing winning away for the first time since September.
Kevin van Veen
EFL Goals/Games: 1/2
The 28-year-old Dutch striker has been Scunny’s main goal threat this term, scoring four goals since returning from Northampton Town in the summer.
Van Veen arrived at Glanford Park originally in 2014 but, after four seasons at the club, he returned home to join Cambuur on loan, before Northampton picked up the striker for an undisclosed fee the following January.
The Dutchman is the current owner of an unfortunate stat in that both clubs he has joined in the January window have subsequently been relegated, but it doesn’t seem to be effecting his second spell at The Iron, as he continues to try to keep his team afloat in the fourth tier.