Yeovil Town boss Mark Cooper says defender Finn Cousin-Dawson has deserved his chance in the starting XI for today’s home match with Maidenhead United.
The defender, a summer signing following his release by Bradford City, replaces the suspended Morgan Williams who is banned following his sending off in the goalless draw at Tamworth on Tuesday night.
Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Ian Randall ahead of the match, Cooper said: “Finn Cousin-Dawson replaces Morgs, there is no drama there. Finn has waited patiently for his chance, trained really hard so he gets an opportunity. Whittle comes in on the left and we have switched Plant across to the right, he is right-footed, so that is an easy one for us.”
The 22-year-old has made seven appearances ahead of today’s game although only started twice. He is one of four changes to the Glovers’ XI with Alex Whittle, Frank Nouble and Kofi Shaw all in the starting line-up.
New signing Caleb Hughes is named among the six substitutes – of the seven able to be named this season – and Cooper revealed pre-match that the original plan had been to loan the former Cardiff City academy product out.
He said: “Caleb has been training with us for a number of weeks now and initially the thought was that we were going to get him in and loan him straight out, to give him a chances to get some games under his belt. But we need him today for numbers, so he will be on the bench.”
Following the match, the Glovers will sit out next weekend following their exit from the FA Cup, but the manager said the break would give injured players including full-back Michael Smith and injured captain Matt Worthington more time in their own fitness fights.
He added: “It enables us to clear a few little niggles up. We would rather be in the FA Cup, but it gives Michael Smith and Worthy an extra week and it gives some of the players who are not quite up to speed yet a chance to top up.”