Manager Gary Bowyer has said that the Bolton Wanderers League Cup clash later tonight is an opportunity for players to impress and give him a selection headache.
On the back of the two nil victory over Exeter City on the opening day of the League Two campaign, Blackpool go into tonight’s clash with confidence and Bowyer admitted there would be changes to give others an opportunity.
Speaking to the Official Site in his pre game press conference, the gaffer explained that some players had already been ruled out of this one owing to injury.
‘It’s another opportunity to try and win a game of football. We’ve got to take into consideration the injuries that we picked up on Saturday and see who has fully recovered to try and put a team together to go forward and try and get through to the next round. Whoever we play, they’ve got to put a case forward for being involved against Morecambe on Saturday if they didn’t play against Exeter. I’m really looking forward to watching how they respond and take the challenge on.’
With Danny Philliskirk being one of three to come off with injury last Saturday, Bowyer ruled him out of the game but Kyle Vassell and Bright Osyayi-Samuel will have been assessed at some point today.
‘He’s out, he won’t play. Kyle Vassell took a knock so we’ll see how he is, Bright is OK that was just cramp and not his calf, and one or two others have bumps and bruises. For some it was the first game of 90 minutes of pre-season and the start of the season so we’ll have to monitor them as well.’
With on loan Leicester City midfielder Michael Cain getting an early debut against Exeter with those injuries hitting, Bowyer also confirmed the 21 year old would again feature against Bolton.
‘Michael will feature. On Saturday circumstances dictated our substitutions rather than us picking and choosing. He’ll certainly be involved at some point in the game. He’s only had three training sessions with us so he’s still getting to know the boys, but already on the training pitch we’ve seen the quality that he possesses with the ball at his feet.’
As for Bolton directly, he added.
‘Phil Parkinson has got a history of cup runs with Bradford City and he did remarkably well there. He finds himself going into a situation where it is a bit different for him, with the club and the number of players he’s got. He’s got a massive squad and the ability to rotate so whoever they play again is going to provide us with a big challenge.’
