Majority of the squad will be involved against Oldham!
- David Wagner gives his thoughts ahead of Oldham friendly- Hudson and Wells miss friendly through injury; Lolley is back
- Most of the squad will make an appearance this weekend
Town Head Coach David Wagner expects almost all his squad to be involved in Town’s friendly against Oldham as their pre-season preparations continue.
Wagner had played two different teams for each half in Town’s opening two friendlies, however against Rochdale on Tuesday one side played for 60 minutes and another for 30 minutes.
He expects to do the same again as the players make the next step in their pre-season preparations.
“At the moment it’s the aim to give the players who played 30 minutes on Tuesday against Rochdale 60 minutes. The ones that played 60 minutes will get 30 minutes.
“We will see during the game if this is possible for each player and after training this afternoon but this is our aim at the moment.”
Town’s Head Coach revealed that only Mark Hudson and Nahki Wells will miss this weekend’s friendly due to injury, but Joe Lolley is back in contention.
“Everybody who is available will be involved tomorrow. Mark Hudson (leg) will not be involved, he will be back in training on Sunday or Monday and Nahki (Wells) has some light problems with his knee.
“He will be out for four or five days, we don’t expect him to be out any longer. Joe Lolley is back so everybody else will be involved.”
Following this weekend’s friendly, Wagner believes his side will be about to hit the peak of its pre-season preparation.
“It’s important that everybody is healthy after the final whistle (against Oldham), it’s important for me and then of course that they are able to work against tiredness and problems.
“I think tomorrow is going to be a game where we have to come out of comfort zone because we have had a very busy week.
“We had two very intense training sessions today and we train tomorrow before the game. I think we will be near the peak of the mountain at the end of this week or the middle of next week.”
In his press conference Town’s Head Coach spoke about the ‘Red Zone’ as they prepare for the Oldham game.
“We have to make sure that we are able to work in the red zone. The players might start to be there in the next few days. In the red zone it’s important to make some good decisions.
“In the end it’s the volume of the whole two and a half weeks and especially the last four days being intense as well. We play this game tomorrow right after training, so this game isn’t the most important thing.
“We don’t secure or save ourselves because of the game tomorrow, we bring to the pitch our normal training schedule and that involves this game.”
After making 12 signings already this season, Head Coach David Wagner insists his squad now has good competition for every position and doesn’t foresee any future transfers in or out.
“To be honest I don’t expect anyone to leave, but in the end as long as the window is open anything can happen. What I can say is that we have now done our business and I’m very happy to say we did our business three weeks before the season starts. This is great.
“I don’t think our squad is too big now but it could be that one player says with this competition it’s hard and maybe I don’t like it; this can happen but this is not my aim. We have to discuss every personal situation but from my side our business now is done and it’s great we have everyone together so early.
“I’m very satisfied. I think we have a very interesting group together, it’s a great age, we have speed, good football quality, we are taller than what we were before and now we have to make them as fit as we can after six weeks of pre-season.
“As well as giving them as much information as we can in pre-season so that we are all the best prepared for our first game against Brentford.”
16 year-old Jordan Williams has been involved in two First Team friendlies so far this season, most recently playing 30 minutes against Rochdale.
However, sees him as a long-term prospect of the Club and stated Martin Cranie will challenge Tommy Smith at right back this season.
“In the long-term he will be involved but so I think all together we have to be very patient with Jordan Williams.
“He is 16 and I’ve never worked with a 16 year-old player if I’m honest but when he is with us he’s very open minded, he likes to learn, he has some physical skills that are unbelievable at his age, but he has a lot of work to do.
“If possible he will always be a part of our training group, he is a talent but in my head he isn’t a competitor for the right back position yet.
“As we know Martin Cranie is a right back or able to be a right back. He might be a little bit of a different right back that we use, but he will work on this position in the future and he is the competitor with Tommy Smith for the right back spot. He can also help us on the centre back position if we need him.”
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