Cambridge United boss Martin Ling has admitted that he is bemused by Histon's stance on their contract rebels.The Stutes are unlikely to use six players who have refused to agree new terms in Saturday's local derby at the Abbey Stadium.

And Ling told BBC Radio Cambridgeshire: "I think it's unjust but it's the stance they have chosen to take.

"It doesn't make any financial sense to me because you'll still be paying players who are under contract."

He added: "I don't really want to get involved with it but it's like me saying to my players, 'show me you want to be here next season'.

"They could say 'well if you're not going to give me a contract, I'm not going to play for you'."

Histon have rung the changes recently after excluding first team regulars Matt Langston, who has since moved to Crawley on loan, Lanre Oyebanjo, Danny Wright and Danny Naisbitt for refusing to sign new contracts.

Bradley Hudson-Odoi and Joe Welch have also been blacklisted at the Glass World Stadium.

Stutes boss Alan Lewer believes Wright has had his head turned by other clubs and Ling admits that he does admire the 25-year-old striker.

"I haven't seen him looking over the garden fence," said Ling. "but he's a player I like.

"We shall see what happens with him in the future."

One Cambridge player who can afford a bit of sympathy for the Histon outcasts is striker Danny Crow.

The 24-year-old suffered a torrid end to his Peterborough United career in 2008 before moving to the Abbey Stadium.

"I've experienced it at Peterborough and I think it happens a lot in football," he said.

"I didn't expect it to happen at Histon because the players that aren't playing are the better ones, but they're still going to be a good team."

Lewer will look to young players to fill the gaps in his squad. And he believes that his Histon side, in 13th in the Blue Square Premier, three places and seven points above Cambridge, will rise to the challenge in front of a bumper crowd.

"They've never played in front of that in their lives so it will be a massive game for them," he said.

"We go there with no pressure. We're not expected to win and they are, so we'll enjoy it."

Histon are hopeful striker Andy Pugh and defender Gareth Gwillim will both be fit for the derby clash.

The U's welcome Dan Glesson back after illness but defender Dave Partridge and striker Calum Willock are both doubts.

Source: BBC Sport