Daniel Oyegoke
Dom Jefferies played on Tuesday night, but I think Daniel comes back in on the right. He is another who impressed me when he did the press interview, and his early performances have been encouraging.
He has the physical attributes we seem to look for: big, athletic, strong and capable of handling the demands of the position. There is a pattern to the players we recruit, and he looks very much part of it.
His arrival also helps explain why Josh has found his route into the team complicated. There is a little bit of Sean Long about the situation, a player who might do very little wrong but finds circumstances conspiring against him. Tendayi Darikwa’s injury meant we needed somebody ready to come in, Daniel arrived, and suddenly there was another obstacle.
I am certainly not saying Josh cannot make an impact here. For this game, though, Daniel would be my choice.
Conor McGrandles
Chris mentioned in his pre-match press conference that Conor has played nearly every minute, and it made me stop and think. We talk about rotation, about Yunus Konak or Ivan Varfolomeev coming into midfield, and sometimes assume Conor might be the one to step aside, yet there he is again.
He is part of that established spine: George, Sonny, Conor and, further forward, Ben House. Players can change around them, but there is something reassuring about having those familiar figures running through the side.
It is a bit like a Christmas tree. You can change the decorations on the outside, but the thing holding it all together stays the same. Conor is part of what holds us together, and I would start him again.
Ivan Varfolomeev
Ivan must be absolutely buzzing after receiving his first senior Ukraine call-up. That is a massive moment for him and a significant one for us, having signed an under-21 international and then watched him take the next step while playing in our side.
We have had young internationals before whose route into the senior team always looked difficult. Ivan has the quality to make that jump, and the recognition is another indication of how well he is progressing.
I thought he was excellent at Bristol City. People have rightly talked about Ben’s pressing for the goal, but remember Freddie’s first-half chance as well: Ivan’s pressure helped create the opportunity for Ben to put him through.
That contribution matters. I would keep Tuesday’s midfield pairing together and give Ivan the chance to sign off with another strong performance before joining up with his country.
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