Ball has been sidelined with a foot injury since January and was out for six weeks before Christmas, so the young striker is desperate to finish the season on a high with a run of games for the second string.
With Nedum Onuoha on the bench for the first-team at Fulham yesterday, Abdisalam Ibrahim returns and Robbie Mak, hugely impressive in last week’s Manchester Senior Cup tie against Bolton, retains his place in the starting XI.
Second-placed City go into this Barclays Reserve League North match needing a win to close the gap on leaders Manchester United who have played the same number of games, but are five points clear.
The Blues will also be keen to maintain their unbeaten away record at the Reebok Stadium, too, having not lost any of their seven matches on the road this season.
The game kicks off at 7pm and there will be a full match report shortly after the final whistle.
