Starting XI: Fringe players to get a chance — is this the team to play Bradford tonight?

After Matete, Bennette and Hemir were dropped to the reserves at the weekend, Regis Le Bris’s squad is starting to take a bit more shape. I think we’ll see a wholesale changes tonight from Saturday’s game at Blackpool, and ahead of our return to Valley Parade on Saturday to play Marseille.

Here’s how we could line up tonight.

Goalkeeper: Simon Moore

Patterson’s understudy should get a run out tonight.

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Defence: Timothee Pembele, Zak Johnson, Leo Hjelde, Joe Anderson

Aji Alese’s injury (and injury record) means there’s a centre back spot up for grabs at the moment, and it was interesting that Le Bris preferred to bring on Zak Johnson on Saturday. He’s impressed in Ireland, and could well be the extra centre back we need. Alongside him, Hjelde will also get a chance to impress if he recovers from injury, while Pembele and Anderson will likely start in the full back positions.

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Midfield: Chris Rigg, Pierre Ekwah

I think Chris Rigg deserves to be in the team that starts the season, however judging by the selection last Saturday that seems unlikely. He’ll get another chance to impress tonight, probably alongside Ekwah if he’s recovered from injury, however Embleton could be another shout here.

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Attack: Abdoullah Ba, Adil Aouchiche, Romain Mundle

Ba was on the bench on Saturday, and you’d think he’ll get a half today, with Poveda playing the second 45. Aouchiche will get another chance to impress (to be honest, if it was me picking the team, Aouchiche and Rigg would be preferred in that 10 role to Jobe) while Mundle, who’s been impressive in pre season, will play on the left.

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Forward: Naz Rusyn

I feel sorry for Hemir. Scoring a cracker of a goal just gets you sent to the reserves, it seems. So Rusyn will get a chance up top tonight. We’re still in desperate need of a proper goalscorer though – will we get one before the real action starts?

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