Nigel Pearson looks set to make a few tweaks to his Bristol City side for their Carabao Cup third round tie against Lincoln City but has also indicated he will field the strongest possible team to advance in the competition.
City host League One Lincoln at Ashton Gate on Tuesday night in their penultimate fixture before the World Cup break with an opportunity to reach the last 16 of the competition for the first time since they reached the semi-finals in 2017/18.
Naturally, after a packed schedule of 10 Championship fixtures inside 36 days since the last international break - and Mark Sykes and Jay Dasilva were left out of the starting XI against Middlesbrough due to fatigue - some individuals who would normally be starting may be rested in anticipation of Watford this Saturday.
But, equally, with just two wins and three draws in that period of time, Pearson wants the Robins to go into the four-week recess with some strong results behind them. Lincoln have won just one of their last five games, including Saturday’s humiliating FA Cup exit to Chippenham Town, so represent an excellent opportunity for City.
“You may, but we want to win the game and we want to finish this week before the World Cup with a couple of positive results because our performances have deserved more of late,” Pearson said, with regards to whether there will be any unfamiliar faces in the squad. “You may see one or two but it’s also an opportunity for players who haven’t got a lot of pitch time, are in the squad, to play.
“We’ll look at it like we do any game and, that is, trying to put a team out there that will be best suited to winning the game for us.”
The Under-21 game taking place earlier in the day will offer some strong clues as to who could be involved for the first-team that may not be immediately familiar. Ali Hines’ Young Robins play Watford at the High Performance Centre at 1pm, and should any regulars be missing from that teamsheet, the chances are they’ll be included in the senior squad for the evening.
One such player almost certainly set to make his first start for the club is centre-back Joe Low, who earned his debut on Saturday at the Riverside as a second-half substitute, playing the final seven minutes of the 1-1 draw.
The powerful 20-year-old has been exceptional for the U21s this season, captaining the side, and given Pearson’s slim defensive resources, and the risk of further injury before Watford, could well be included against the Imps.
“A great moment for him and his family and, of course, another positive day for our academy, Pearson added of Low’s debut. “I wasn’t worried about him going on there, to be honest with you, because at the end of the game what we needed more than anything was players prepared to throw themselves in front of anything and he loves defending, so it wasn’t too big a risk.”
Low could allow Timm Klose a breather after he returned to the starting XI on Saturday after illness, or come in for Cam Pring who could move to left wing-back.
Midfielder Dylan Kadji made a goalscoring debut for the club in the second round tie at Wycombe Wanderers and forward Sam Bell, who has made substitute appearances in two of the last three City games, are other names likely to be involved against Lincoln.
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