Yunus Konak
Yunus replaces Tom Bayliss, and this is a change I feel we need to make. Tom has good technique, scored a great goal at Blackpool and contributed to the equaliser against Southampton, so there is still a role for him. However, he was not a regular starter in our League One side towards the end of last season, and I do not think he is one of our best two central midfield options now.
Yunus has shown the strength and quality that make me want him in from the start. He lost the ball shortly after coming on at Sheffield United, but immediately tracked back and won it again, and I like that aggression in his game. The caveat is that international duty kept him away from some of the work on our shape during the break, but I still think Saturday should be the catalyst for giving him a regular place.
Ivan Varfolomeev
Ivan comes into my midfield, and taking Conor McGrandles out is probably one of the more difficult calls. Conor was my player of the season last year, and I regard him as a Lincoln City legend, even if we often only start using that description once someone has left. However, I watched his four bookings back, and three came after he lost possession and then fouled to prevent the opponent getting away.
Those are only four moments across nine games, and I am certainly not writing Conor off as a Championship player. I can easily imagine him making 40 appearances for us this season and being part of a side that finishes comfortably clear of trouble. For Wednesday, though, I would give Ivan the shirt: he is now a senior Ukraine international, he has a big future, and I want to see him alongside Yunus.
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