It seems we’re having a bit of a player crisis at the moment – although it isn’t quite as bad as first thought.
Some reports, including us on the podcast, suggested Paudie was suspended for this game as he has five yellow cards. However, two of those came in the same game, and as he’s served a suspension for that, I don’t think it means he will miss out tomorrow.
However, we are going to be without a group of players; Tom Bayliss, Tom Hamer and Tyler Walker are all injured, Freddie Draper missed the last game as did Reeco Hackett, and Ben House is suspended for picking up five yellow cards this season. It presents Michael Skubala with a challenge, one he says may lead to risk-taking with his selection.
“Every club or manager faces these challenges: how much you risk a player who isn’t 100% fit or how much you risk having a player on the bench when they might not be ready,” he said in his pre-match press conference.
“When you have injuries, it’s always a challenging part of the year, especially during this period with games coming thick and fast—Saturday, Tuesday, Saturday. That’s the challenge of the job: how to field a team, whether to move players out of position because not everyone is fit or available to play.”
However, he also suggested that it can be a positive thing – Dylan Duffy, for example, got a chance this weekend courtesy of the injury to Reeco Hackett, while it’s almost certain Bailey Cadamarteri will get a start in place of House tomorrow.
“It can feel like a jigsaw sometimes, but that can be a good thing,” added Michael. “It gives people opportunities. Sometimes, those opportunities come by choice from a manager, and other times, they’re forced on a manager. Then it’s about showing what you’re capable of and trying to keep your place in the team.”
We may see one return tomorrow, but it is touch and go. Adam Jackson has been back on the grass for a week or two, and that could mean he’s in contention tomorrow. However, with Lewis getting back to his levels, and both O’Connor and Sean Roughan available, Jacko may be afforded the time to recover and reintegrate carefully.
“Right now, we’re probably a little light in the defensive line with players like Jacko and Hamer out,” Michael finished by saying. “Jacko’s close and in contention, but he might not be ready to start. So, we just have to work through that as a club.”
The Imps face Wrexham in the Football League for the first time since 2008, when the Red Dragons’ 4-2 at Sincil Bank was academic, as they were already relegated from the Football League. It will be our first meeting with them since the 2016/17 season, when we managed to do the double home and away en route to the National League title.
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