The full-back dilemma - and the youngster that could now be

The full-back dilemma - and the youngster that could now be called upon


By Glen Williams

Monday 19th October 2020


One of the first items of business for Harris heading into midweek will be a potential injury crisis at full-back.

Both Greg Cunningham and Jordi Osei-Tutu limped out of the win at Deepdale, forcing Leandro Bacuna and Sol Bamba, respectively, to fill in from the bench.

"With Greg Cunningham. It's a real shame," Harris revealed after the game. "It looks like a small hamstring strain. So we have to see how he progresses over the coming days. He felt it straight away when he chased the ball into the corner.

"Then Jordi. I think it's just tight, so we're hoping he's going to be okay and it's going to be a quick turnaround for him. We're hoping for a bit of fortune on that one.

"When we're asking the full-backs to bomb on and be explosive in getting forward. Jordi might be a little more explosive than GC, but we want the full-backs in those high positions. We want them crossing balls from the corner flag and we're going to have to accept that we're pushing them hard and we are going to pick up niggles as we go on."

Hamstring injuries certainly are a running theme in terms of full-back options, with anxiety over these latest injuries arguably heightened by Joe Bennett's absence from the matchday squad, with the former Aston Villa man suffering from, yes, you guessed it, a hamstring strain.

Harris is hopeful of receiving some good news on that front, but insists he still has options should the worst happen, including one of his most highly-rated youngsters.

"Fingers crossed, Joe will be back this week. How quick? We'll have to see. I won't risk Joe Bennett again, but if he's right then great.

"Leandro [Bacuna] was excellent at left-back today, and we've got young Joel Bagan, who without putting too much pressure on him, is going to be a very, very good player for this football club for a long time.

"We have options in those areas, but we have to take it one day at a time. I don't want to rule out anybody at this stage."

If there was ever going to be a gateway from the youth to first-team surely it would be there in a situation like this for young Joel. I think too often in modern football we seem to be waiting for the perfect match to blood youngsters which never happens. It might be a baptism of fire but it is the only way to find out if they are good enough. If injuries mean Joel gets a chance I hope he is given it and grabs it with both hands.

Difficult to know how good Baglan is. He did well on his loan spell at Notts County but that was in the National league. He is regarded highly at Cardiff but there have been a few next big things in the youth team who have basically gone nowhere. Let's hope Bennet is fit soon. I assume Sang is injured at Cheltenham as he has not featured in their last two games even on the subs bench.

If there was ever going to be a gateway from the youth to first-team surely it would be there in a situation like this for young Joel. I think too often in modern football we seem to be waiting for the perfect match to blood youngsters which never happens. It might be a baptism of fire but it is the only way to find out if they are good enough. If injuries mean Joel gets a chance I hope he is given it and grabs it with both hands.

Spot on give Joel the shirt!

If there was ever going to be a gateway from the youth to first-team surely it would be there in a situation like this for young Joel. I think too often in modern football we seem to be waiting for the perfect match to blood youngsters which never happens. It might be a baptism of fire but it is the only way to find out if they are good enough. If injuries mean Joel gets a chance I hope he is given it and grabs it with both hands.

Spot on give Joel the shirt!

Agreed if we serious about bringing our youngsters through, this is the ideal opportunity, I hope young Joel makes the grade!

Cant see Baglan being thrown in at the deep end to be honest. Maybe if we were playing Wycombe or someone i'd feel more comfortable. Would be a great opportunity for him though if he is called up!

Nelson at RB and Bacuna at LB for a back 4? Or go to a back 5 with morrisin, Benkovic, Nelson and ojo as wingback. Not sure holiet has got the legs to play wingback. Think whyte would be better suited for that role

It’s exactly what happened when we brought through the likes of Cameron Jerome, and he wasn’t even the first choice young striker we were going to try out. Stuart Fleetwood was given the chalice only to get injured in the first minute of his big chance which opened the door for Jerome. And look what that did for his career, played for plenty of championship clubs and a few in the prem as well.

I can’t see any reason not to give him a run out, and if toward the end of a game they want a more experienced head there and he looks like he’s under pressure bring on one of the position fillers just to see out the game.

Cant see Baglan being thrown in at the deep end to be honest. Maybe if we were playing Wycombe or someone i'd feel more comfortable. Would be a great opportunity for him though if he is called up!

Nelson at RB and Bacuna at LB for a back 4? Or go to a back 5 with morrisin, Benkovic, Nelson and ojo as wingback. Not sure holiet has got the legs to play wingback. Think whyte would be better suited for that role

You were saying about bagan? Lol.