Richard McKinney will be aiming to cap his Colchester United debut with a clean sheet tomorrow.

The 23-year-old Irish-born former Manchester City and Swindon goalkeeper has been given the nod ahead of regular keeper Simon Brown in the Division Two season opener at home to Stockport County.

McKinney, who signed a one-month contract earlier this week, gets his big chance because of a back injury to Brown.

U's boss Steve Whitton, who will be renewing a friendship with County manager Carlton Palmer from their Sheffield Wednesday days back in the late 1980's and early 90's, said: "Richard gets his chance because Simon needs more games.

"Simon has missed a big chunk of our pre-season action and although he enjoyed 70 minutes at Maldon on Tuesday night without any adverse reaction he will only be on the substitutes bench for the Stockport game."

Whitton said: "Mark Warren will be another new face."

But, he offered no other clues to his line-up except to say: "We will be working as a team going forward and working as a team defensively where we are already looking much stronger."

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Published Friday August 9, 2002

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