Team news - Hatters v St Albans

The summer signing from Stevenage was replaced at half time during Tuesday night’s 6-1 thrashing of Forest Green Rovers after scoring his fourth goal of the season, as he was again troubled by cramp in his hamstring.

French wideman Claude Gnakpa steps up from the bench, but Money insisted that would be the only change to his side.

Speaking to the press this afternoon, he said: “There is one change for tomorrow, Gnakpa for Drury.

“The only person we want missing is Drury but everybody else will play and I think that is an indication of how important we think this tie is.

“We’ve got Gnakpa who can come in and replace him. The sensible cause of action is not to risk someone who is very important to us and it gives him a good full week’s training which he hasn’t had for two or three weeks.

“We’ve been putting him on the pitch without too much training and it means we can give him a rest and work him hard next week. Hopefully he’ll be fully fit next weekend.”

One player who will miss out is youngster Adam Watkins, as he is cup-tied after turning out for Arlesey Town in an earlier round during his recent loan spell.

Money continued: “The only one we’ve slipped up with and made a bit of a mistake with is we allowed Adam Watkins to play for Arlesey Town, which has come back and bit us on the backside a little. But there we are, that’s life.”

Casting his mind ahead to Saturday’s clash between the Hatters and near neighbours St Albans, currently plying their trade in the Blue Square Bet South, the Town boss insisted it was probably the best tie they could have asked for.

He said: “People are happy when the FA Cup comes around, there’s a real adrenalin rush and romance to the FA Cup.

“I think this particular cup tie epitomises what the FA Cup is all about. If I could have handpicked a tie I wouldn’t have picked a better one and I don’t say that disrespectfully, I say that in terms of atmosphere.

“It’s a real proper local derby, you couldn’t get a better tie.”

Hatters have had plenty of dealings with their opponents in the past as both Godfrey Poku, who is currently making a big impression at Kenilworth Road, and JJ O’Donnell were signed from the Clarence Park outfit last season.

Money said: “We have a particularly good relationship with them and we actually tried our very hardest to have a pre-season game with them this year but it didn’t work out.

“It’s a massive day for them and a huge opportunity for them to come and turn over their big rivals.

“We’ve got to be very respectful and very mindful of that and we will be.”

Although Kenilworth Road will be nowhere near a sell-out for the clash, the Hatters are expecting a far larger turnout than the embarrassing 18 supporters that midweek opponents Forest Green brought with them on Tuesday night.

Money said: “Had we played almost anyone else in the round you would be looking at two to two-and-a-half thousand.

“With it being St Albans, we might get four or five (thousand). That in itself will create quite an atmosphere. I think they will bring quite a number, certainly more than Forest Green did I would suggest, which means we hope we’ve got quite a good home attendance tomorrow.

“It’s going to be a big atmosphere. They’re going to come here and enjoy themselves and give everything they’ve got to cause a shock and why would they.”

If as expected, Hatters come through the tie tomorrow, they would be in the hat for the first round proper, where League One and Two clubs come into consideration. Last season, Town went all the way to the third round where they were edged out 1-0 by Southampton and Money wants to replicate that run this time around.

He added: “That’s our target. If we can get through to third round draw, that would be considered a success. Obviously we have to get through this tough tie and then you’re reliant the draw, but it’s always nice to have an FA Cup run.

“When I came here last year, my first game was Rochdale in the cup and we knocked them out and then we knocked Rotherham out which was two massive scalps.

“We took Southampton all the way too and if we can do something similar this year, I’ll be very happy, that’s our aim.”