Strong Squad Expected To Face Lincoln City

After some mediocre performances in the past when manager Mick McCarthy has selected fringe players for cup matches, he has decided to air on the side of caution this time and field a strong squad for the game against Lincoln City at Portman Road on Saturday afternoon.

That is a wise move because to fail in this match against Vanarama League leaders Lincoln City, could finally be the death knell for the Yorkshireman with some Irish heritage.

Then again, given our erratic form throughout the season, who is to say that even a full strength team would be good enough these days, when we never know which team is going to turn up?

McCarthy is bringing in Dean Gerken in goal in order to give first choice keeper Bartosz Bialkowski a bit of a breather and if Cole Skuse and Luke Chambers do not recover in time from swelling on their knees, there could be one or two enforced changes as well.

There other possible absentee is Myles Kenlock, who is suffering with a minor calf strain, which was the reason he was substituted prematurely against Queens Park Rangers apparently.

Home advantage should be decisive though and anything less than victory would be regarded as a huge disappointment, with the prospect of Town facing one of the big guns in the next round.

McCarthy has also hinted that he might be prepared to give youth a chance from the bench and if this is indeed the case, then expect to see Ben Morris and Adam McDonnell on bench warming duties; along perhaps with Andre Dozzell, if he does not start that is.

According to club sources, it seems very unlikely that we will have anyone new through the door before the weekend and Mick McCarthy said that although his primary objective is to find another striker, it has been very hard work so far.

‘We`re still looking for strikers and so far we`re not having any joy, we`re just getting the same custard pies in the face,’ he explained today.

Whether this has anything to do with Marcus Evans five part plan – or more to do with the fact that we are too tight fisted to throw any money into the ring is anybody’s guess but I have the feeling we have heard this sort of talk before.

Frank Weston – Editor of Vital Ipswich