Coventry City take a break from the rigours of the Championship on Wednesday night when they entertain Tottenham Hotspur in the third round of the Carabao Cup.
The Sky Blues will be underdogs against the Premier League side, no matter how strong a side Spurs’ boss Ange Postecoglou fields against Mark Robins’ men in the competition in which most top flight managers, and even many in the second tier, tend to make wholesale changes to their first choice line-up.
Robins has done it in the past, not least to give wider members of his squad valuable game time while also taking the opportunity of giving some a rest. However, virtually every player will want to feature in such a glamorous tie. Especially after Postecoglou's boast that he always wins a trophy in his second season at a club.
Asked if he’ll have to manage is squad carefully for this one, the City boss admitted: “Some will be absolutely shattered and then we have got Swansea at home a couple of days later, so yes, is the short answer. I’m going to have to have a look at that. They’ll get a day off and then be back in and I will have a look and see who will be available.”
One position the manager tends to change as a matter of course is the goalkeeper, with Ben Wilson having played in the previous two rounds of the Cup, and therefore expected to come in for first choice Oliver Dovin.
Joe Latibeaudiere went off with cramp and fatigue just after the hour at Watford at the weekend so it remains to be seen whether he will have recovered enough to go again on Wednesday night when he could again fill in at right-back, thus allowing Milan van Ewijk to push forward to deputise for Tatsuhiro Sakamoto. The Japanese winger, however, is back in training after suffering an ankle injury against Norwich and could make a return to the side, which would allow Van Ewijk to resume his regular slot in the back four.
The central defensive pairing is two from Bobby Thomas, Liam Kitching and Luis Binks, the latter of whom sat out at the weekend and will therefore be fresh to face his former club. The left-back berth, meanwhile, should see Jake Bidwell return in place of Jay Dasilva, who visibly tired in the second half at Vicarage Road.
Midfielder Josh Eccles suffered a shoulder injury at the weekend and, although he carried on playing for the entire 90 minutes, may well make way for Jamie Allen to come in alongside Victor Torp. Former Arsenal prospect Ben Sheaf will be desperate to play in this one but doubts remain about his fitness. Although back in full training after recovering from a pre-season ankle injury, he’s barely played and is therefore unlikely to be able to get through a full game, assuming he’s ready to make a return.
Brandon Thomas-Asante and Ephron Mason-Clark are also options for the wide right position, while Haji Wright is expected to be deployed on the left, with Jack Rudoni continuing in the number ten role. Norman Bassette started the last round of the Cup ahead of first choice front man Ellis Simms but, again, the fact that it’s Tottenham might mean Robins goes as strong as possible.