Once again, Aldershot Town look to avoid being just what the doctor ordered. Ailing Grimsby’s winless streak so very nearly came to an end at The EBB Stadium last weekend, and now The Shots pay a home visit to another of League Two’s sickest patients.

14 games without a win and earning five points from a possible 39, Barnet have plummeted like Icarus after daring to fly too high in the season’s opening month. Briefly top of the table, and still third at the beginning of October, their current position of 19th has plotted a steep learning curve for manager Ian Hendon.

A superficially respectable home record, of just 2 defeats in 14, is also slightly misleading: seven draws illustrate perfectly the frustrating inconsistencies of a side who maybe peaked too soon.

A rare ray of sunshine came at the end of the transfer window, with the discovery that their two brightest stars remained at Underhill: top scorer John O’Flynn turned down a £100,000 move to Shrewsbury, and Blackpool pulled out of a move for winger Albert Adomah after Barnet inflated their asking price to £500,000.

Hendon was even able to replenish his squad with the temporary signing of Colchester left-back Matt Lockwood, as cover for the injured Kenny Gillet. And former Barnet and Tottenham manager Peter Shreeves has recently returned to the Club to assist Hendon, after leaving Grays Athletic.

Hendon switched to a 4-5-1 formation for their last game, at Notts County, but defensive solidity was conspicuous by its absence as two moments of slackness gifted County a routine win that maybe should have been by a greater margin. The combative David Livermore arrived this week to add extra strength to the team’s already physically-strong spine, following his release by Brighton, but with just 22 minutes of football this season – and that back in October – he is unlikely to be fit enough to be thrown straight into the battle.

It is in attack, though, where The Bees have struggled most, scoring just five goals in their last ten matches, and averaging just one goal per game over 27 League matches. O’Flynn hasn’t scored since 1 December, and Jake Hyde – the Club’s best finisher – remains more of an impact substitute than regular starter.

Paul Furlong continues to lead the line well, at the age of 41, but, with the most fouls in League Two and an own goal which last week gifted Torquay a late draw, has troubled statisticians in rather unfortunate ways. And the Club’s longest-serving player, Captain Ishmael Yakubu, has reinforced his injury-prone reputation by succumbing to a series of back spasms that make him doubtful for Saturday. Mark Hughes stands by to partner the 36 year-old Gary Breen in central defence.

Stephen Henderson looks to have been given an immediate debut by Kevin Dillon, but The Shots have their own defensive injury concerns, with both Chris Blackburn and Anthony Charles rated doubtful. John Grant may also once again miss out, with Danny Hylton – a rare beacon of endeavour against Grimsby – the enthusiastic deputy.