Manager James Beattie has admitted that he’s playing with the idea of a return to first team action for the game against AFC Wimbledon.
Beattie obviously temporarily hung up his boots when taking on the role as our manager, but we are currently without a number of players following injury and obviously we’ve just lost a further two members of the squad to international duty.
Speaking to the Official Site ahead of the game, Beattie confirmed he was still mostly undecided upon the make up of the first team, and hadn’t completely ruled out donning his own boots again to help our fortunes.
‘Whatever I believe is best then we will do it. We’re missing James Gray and Shay McCartan this week due to international duty and that’s obviously not ideal but we’ll put out a side on Saturday that I believe will beat Wimbledon.’
Beattie adds that like always, he won’t bleat on about injuries, or being unlucky, because he’s been in the game long enough to know you just have to deal with it, and ultimately it is chance for somebody else to step up, but he does barb we’ve certainly had our fair share so far this season, and he can’t wait for the day – with no disrespect meant – that he can select from a full squad, and put out what he believes is our current strongest line up.
The gaffer also adds that with those missing it’s tempting to see if somebody can be rushed back like Danny Webber, but however tempting that may be he has to take a longer view on things. If he feels Webber is ready, he’ll start tomorrow, if not it might be a case of the bench or he’ll give him a bit longer to focus only on training.
As for his own return, having been on the bench in our last match, he said matter of factly.
‘We haven’t decided the team yet. If it’s the best thing for the club and the team then I’ll get changed and if it’s not, then I’ll be suited and booted.’
As for the Dagenham game and remaining on the bench himself, Beattie’s maturity seems to come through as he explains why he didn’t put himself on.
Accy were obviously two nil down, and he says he felt it was better for everybody if he gave the lads with more dynamism the chance to change the game, as whatever happens they are then learning on the pitch. He says basically he’s far more likely to come on if we are trailing by a single goal now he’s taken the manager’s seat because he knows he gives us a different option, but again he trusts these players to develop with the club and that will only happen as they play games.
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