Chris Hargreaves has suggested there will be “a few tweaks” to his starting line-up as Yeovil Town start their FA Cup campaign this weekend.
The Glovers’ boss will get seven substitutes to select for the Somerset derby with Taunton Town at Huish Park which will give him the chance to give a few opportunities to those who have not made the squad.
The likes of striker Jake Scrimshaw and on-loan goalkeeper Will Buse, who are both yet to start a game for the club, and young defender Ollie Haste, recently returned from a successful spell at Truro City, will be hoping to get a chance to shine.
Asked by BBC Somerset reporter Sheridan Robins, the manager said: “It’s difficult picking the bench because you see a lot of players working their socks off in training.
“Seven substitutes gives a couple of players an opportunity to get on the pitch and show what they are all about.”
He added: “We have to show consistency. There might be a few tweaks, but consistent teams are usually successful. It’s all about players knowing their jobs and playing week in and week out.”
The manager was asked specifically about Buse, who was part of the Taunton side which won promotion to National League South last season, who is yet to feature since joining on loan from Bristol City in the summer.
He added: “It might seem like he hasn’t been close, but it’s like that as a keeper, it’s not like the outfield positions where there’s rotation.
“With a keeper you will sometimes have long periods where you are not in the squad, but he can’t do any more in training, he has a fantastic attitude and has been brilliant with the players and the staff.”
Hargreaves added he still had to speak to managers from parent clubs about whether they will allow players to feature and be Cup-tied.
As well as Buse, the Glovers’ boss has defender Owen Bevan (AFC Bournemouth), midfielders Sam Perry (Walsall) and Finley Craske (Plymouth Argyle) and forward Sam Pearson (Bristol City) on loan.
Injury victims left wing-back Jamie Reckord and playmaker Lawson D’Ath will both be “touch and go” for the weekend.
Reckord has not featured in the club’s past two matches whilst D’Ath limped off of last weekend’s 1-0 home win over Solihull Moors after 54 minutes.
The boss said he believed that any money raised by the club’s progress through the FA Cup would be able to be reinvested in the playing staff.
However, he pointed out the importance of the incoming citing the examples of rugby union sides Worcester Warriors and Wasps, who have been wound up and placed in to administration respectively after running in to major financial issues.
The winners of the weekend’s tie will receive £9,375 in prize money with the losers picking up £3,125, but reaching the competition’s third round will bring in more than £100,000 in prize money.
Hargreaves said: “There’s no doubt that the money will come back to the playing squad if it’s right at that point and the management of the club’s (finances) is vital.
“I know I am talking about rugby now, but you look at Worcester and Wasps, these are massive clubs which are going under.
“If that money at that time is used for the club to survive on a day to day basis, that is what it should be used for, but if there’s a surplus and that money can be spent on players that is brilliant.
“I am conscious that in football we need to make sure we are sustainable and we are trying to create that model here whilst being hugely competitive.”
Hargreaves revealed he had recently missed out on bringing in players ahead of last weekend’s 1-0 home win over Solihull Moors and again this week.
He said he had no ambitions of having “a huge squad” but said he was “one or two injuries” away from needing to add to his ranks.
The manager said: “We are trying to look at quality. So if you are bringing in players they have to be as good as our current players or better, otherwise you are just making up the numbers.
“The balance is fine between having strength in depth and selection headaches. At the moment we are okay, but we are probably one or two injuries away from needing back up.
“We lost out on two before last weekend and this weekend, who were needed to stay in and around their own squads either playing or being on the bench.
“They were to come and strengthen our squad and anyone who comes here has to fight for their place in training.”
Forward Gime Toure serves the final match of his three-game suspension for a red card at Southend United at the weekend whilst Matt Worthington will be missing for next weekend’s visit to Oldham Athletic after picking up five yellow cards in National League action.
With bookings being competition specific, the midfielder is available to face Taunton this weekend.
Of Worthington, Hargreaves said: “If you are an on the edge player, you are going to run the risk of getting booked, so I have some sympathy but discipline has to be a key factor.
“He will be loss because he wears his heart of his sleeve but it gives someone an opportunity for someone else to show.”