Town Manager Dave Flitcroft has confirmed that he will be sending out a young side to face Chippenham tomorrow night.
The Reds will bring the curtain down on their pre-season campaign at Hardenhuish Park on Tuesday 1st August – 7pm Kick-Off.
And, with the opening day of the 2017/18 Sky Bet League Two campaign edging ever closer, a number of youngsters will get the chance to impress tomorrow evening with the likes of Will Henry, Jordan Young, Ellis Iandolo and Scott Twine all set to feature.
Town’s U18’s Boss Alan McLoughlin will direct proceedings from the touchline and Flitcroft explained the importance of not risking any first-team player so close to Saturday’s trip to Carlisle United.
“I think it will be a young side against Chippenham,” said Flitcroft.
“We are light on numbers, I think everyone knows that, so I don’t want to risk any players in this last week.
“I want to keep the group together now. I want to make sure training, Monday, Tuesday, is where I want it at from a tactical point of view and a physical point of view and keeping the group together now is important.
“We’ve come through the pre-season together and it’s important that they all feel that they have got a fair and equal chance of starting against Carlisle."
“I think it will be a young side against Chippenham. We are light on numbers, I think everyone knows that, so I don’t want to risk any players in this last week."
And Flitcroft has challenged the club’s younger players to make the most of their opportunity against Chippenham with all first-team management staff set to be in attendance.
“I’m looking at the depth of what we are doing,” he added.
“I’m looking at trying to improve everyone at the football club and it’s a great chance for the young players to man up a little bit.
“We’ve got to start producing men to come to the first team. We’ve got to start producing a microwave to develop the young kids, so, when they come up to train with the first team, they are physically ready, they’re mentally ready and they know what is expected of them.
“It’s a good game for the young players.
“You can’t just be a talented footballer. I think you have got to be an effective footballer.
“You’ve not only got to look good on a football field but you have to make a massive impact and that is what I want to see from our younger players.”
