BBM: “We trained pretty intensely last week because:

BBM:

“We trained pretty intensely last week because so many of our Academy players featured in the game against Arsenal," Brian began.

“That was a pleasing evening for us all and gave us a lot. It was a very positive outcome to get through to the next round.

“The players who didn’t play in that game trained for the rest of the week and that has put us in a good position. Fingers-crossed that when we train this afternoon, we’ll have a clean bill of health.

“The beauty of the way that we work means that we see most of those Academy players most days anyway. Some of those players will have had more exposure with us than others.

"To see them perform the way they did naturally increases their chances of being involved in training, then the better they do gives them a chance of being involved.”

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BBM:

“Always, you’re looking to establish momentum and get a rhythm in the players where they feel as if it’s not stop-start but the nature of the season is there have been international breaks, which have been beneficial for different reasons.

“This next stage of the season is one where it’s quite beneficial for us to have all the players fit and we need them available as of now because there are so many different games.

“As long as we perform to the level that we can, they’ll all be needed.”




The City boss concluded with an injury update on the squad.

“Ollie Tanner is back on the pitch now, he’s running. He’s had ankle surgery so it gives us a big boost to see him on the pitch. I still wouldn’t put a timescale on when he’s likely to return.

“Chris Willock and Perry Ng joined us in training on Monday and I guess there’s a question mark over how ready they are for Saturday based on what they’ve been through. We’re still trying to give them every chance to be competing for a place in the squad.”

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