Yeovil Town caretaker manager Charlie Lee has a selection headache going in to this weekend’s trip to National League relegation battlers King’s Lynn Town.
The Glovers’ boss has choices to make in goal with first-choice Grant Smith fit again after a groin injury up against on-loan West Brom youngster Ted Cann, who has played the last four National League fixtures.
Up front there are further choices with strikers Josh Neufville, Olufela Olomola and Adi Yussuf all among the goals in the midweek Somerset Premier Cup win over Odd Down vying to take the place of Reuben Reid, Tom Knowles or Charlie Wakefield, who started last weekend at Barnet.
Speaking on Thursday, Charlie said: “We’re going to have to decide between us. There’s players who if they are starting to look tired will have to sit out and give the players who are firing their chance.
“There’s going to be rotation in the next few games because there’s going to be a short break for the next two (games against Aldershot Town and W*ymouth over the Easter period).
“There’s definitely players who are fighting for a place on Saturday, so we’ll see how it goes in the next two days in training.
“Whereas three games ago, the team picked itself, now we have a few more players who are fit and fighting for a place so we will see what happens Saturday.”
Smith has not featured since the 2-0 home defeat against Grimsby three weeks ago, whilst the manager said he took Olomola off with 20 minutes remaining against Odd Down.
The manager said: “Fela came off on Tuesday with a sore groin but I don’t think it’s too serious. As for the weekend, we’re not too sure but we’re hoping he’ll be fine.
“Grant is there. He’s fit and it’s good to have him back. Ted is doing well, so that’s a good problem to have.”
That leaves only central defender Max Hunt, who is on his way back from an ankle injury, and on-loan Middlesbrough defender Jack Robinson, who has featured for two months.
Lee expects both to be back in full training next week.
Lee is not expecting an easy ride at the weekend with King’s Lynn Town having beaten promotion pushing FC Halifax Town and Bromley in their last two matches on home soil.
But, he promised that, despite being sat comfortably in mid-table in the National League, his side would not be giving their hosts an easy game.
He said: “They might think we are a team they want to play being in mid-table, but we are going to make it really hard for them.
“We have to give every team we play now everything to the best of our ability.”
“(King’s Lynn) are one of the league’s in-form teams and they have had a really good last five games and beaten some good teams.
“Playing teams fighting for survival is not easy, but the boys know that.”
There was much praise for the efforts of the young members of the Glovers’ side which turned out in the Somerset Premier Cup semi-final against Bath-based Odd Down on Tuesday night.
Defenders Jake Graziano and Ollie Haste and midfielder Toby Stephens all started the match, with striker Fin Skiverton, the son of legendary defender, Terry, Callum Deemer and Korey Andrews all appearing as substitutes in a strong line-up with eight of the starting XI having played for the first team this season.
Charlie Lee said: “It was a really positive evening, all the boys performed really well.
“The ones who have been involved with the first-team had a great attitude to it and the young lads who came in performed superbly.
“It was a great win, a great evening and all part of keeping that unbeaten run going.”
All six of the youngsters have turned out for the club’s Under-18s with Haste and Stephens both presently on loan at Southern League side Barnstaple Town and Skiverton Junior playing for Street in the Western League Premier Division, one above Odd Down.
There was also praise from the manager for Alex Bradley who was handed the captain’s armband for the fixture.
Lee added: “He played like a leader, he got a tackle in the tenth minute that was probably a red card and he was struggling.
“It was an impact injury, so it is not something for the long term but he could easily have come on, but he played a proper captain’s role.
“To show that respect to the club and competition tells you where the players are at the minute.”
Striker Adi Yussuf is observing the Islamic holy month of Ramadan meaning he is unable to eat or drink between dawn and sunset.
The Tanzanian striker returned after a spell on international duty and played his first minutes in the win over Odd Down in midweek.
Charlie said: “He will get all the help we will give him. He won’t ask for help, we will offer it. He had it all played when he was allowed to take on fluid.
“He doesn’t want it to become a problem, he knows what to do in every day and all the players are doing that. It’s a tough ask, but Adi is up for the job of doing that.“