Notts County manager Neal Ardley has handed a debut to new defender Kenton Richardson as he hoped for victory over Halifax Town at Meadow Lane.

The Sunderland defender, who arrived on loan on Monday, was plunged straight into the starting 11 as the Magpies hoped to keep their promotion push on track.

Tranmere centre-back Mark Ellis, who also arrived at the club on the same day, was among the substitutes as Ardley stuck to what was a largely tried and trusted formation.

Deploying a 4-4-2 system, Sam Slocombe was in goal behind the back four of Richardson, Connell Rawlinson, Alex Lacey and Jordan Barnett at left-back.

In midfield, Enzio Boldewijn was deployed on the right-hand side with captain Michael Doyle joined by Jake Reeves in the centre of midfield.

Ruben Rodrigues was tasked with trying to unlock the Halifax defence on the left while Kyle Wootton, the club's top scorer, was joined in attack by Jimmy Knowles.

On the bench was Ellis, Jim O'Brien, Elisha Sam, Calvin Miller and Dion Kelly-Evans.

There was no place for new striker Lewis Knight who is working on his fitness after signing from Bradford Park Avenue on Monday.

Notts: Slocombe, Richardson, Lacey, Rawlinson, Barnett; Boldewijn, Reeves, Doyle, Rodrigues, Knowles, Wootton.