Lincoln City head coach Tom Shaw has left the door open to changes at Watford tonight, including a possible starting partnership for Freddie Draper and Mikkel Ladefoged.
The Imps are in the middle of a run of three games in eight days, with tonight’s visit to Vicarage Road followed by QPR on Saturday.
Tom wants an energetic side for the challenge, although he made clear that any selection decisions will begin with the approach needed to trouble Watford.
“I think the two three-game weeks we’ve had so far, we’ve kept the team fresh,” he said in yesterday’s press conference.
“We’ll be strategy first, what’s going to affect the opponent, and then find the freshest team at that point.
“Some lads will definitely go again. It might be everybody goes again when we finally select the team. But we’re looking to keep this team fresh through this week. It’s benefited in recent times when we’ve rolled it out.
“We’ve got a little break after QPR as well. That will come into our thinking. But we want to be a really energetic football team to go and take on Watford at Vicarage Road.”
One option under consideration is starting Draper and Ladefoged together, having used the pair in tandem while chasing the Birmingham game. They seemed suited to each other’s talents, and Tom believes their quality with the ball is an important part of what they could offer as a partnership.
“I think there is a perception of them as being target men, but they’re both really good with the ball. They both can play. So I thought there were moments, definitely the goal, where they showed their quality with their feet as well.
“So they’ll give a real physical presence when we play them together. But I think they’ve got very good quality as a pair. So, along with all our centre-forwards, we’ve got some really good options, but that’s definitely something that’s in our thinking.”
Tonight’s team selection will show how Tom balances those attacking options with the need to keep the side fresh. With QPR to follow at the weekend, the emphasis is on finding a side with the energy and quality to carry out the plan at Vicarage Road.
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