MANAGER:We're going to give them as long as possible

Paul Simpson confirmed that the Blues are monitoring a couple of injury doubts ahead of the trip to Exeter City on Saturday.

Speaking ahead of the game, the Blues' boss said: "There's nobody else we're expecting back.

"We've got Paul Huntington who will be back, Jack Ellis is available, but JJ isn't quite ready for it.

"We've got enough bodies who are available and then add in the three extra with Luke, Sean and Harrison, that's a boost.

"We've got two who I would say at this moment are very doubtful, but we're going to give them as long as possible and we'll monitor it from there."

After a hectic schedule over the festive period, this week has given the squad a chance for some much-needed recovery.

"I think that's important," admitted Simpson

"We all enjoy being part of professional football and working at this level, so by doing that and being involved in it you know that'll you have a mad period of games over Christmas. 

"There's no complaint there, but we've then got to manage it. We've got to make sure that players recover.

"We've got two players from the Port Vale game who are doubtful with knocks and little niggles so we've just got to see how everybody is.

"But having almost a week from the last game gives us a real opportunity to get them fit and get everybody else freshened up ready to go."

And even with those doubts thrown in, does last week's performance - coupled with three new additions - are there some selection headaches for Simpson ahead of the trip to St James' Park?

"There absolutely is," he said.

|The fact we've got these new bodies gives a little bit extra depth to the squad and the way that everybody performed on Monday, I thought they were excellent.

"Even the lads that came off the bench - Alfie, Ryan Edmondson and Dan Butterworth - they came on and had a real impact.

"There's a lot of players chomping at the bit and wanting to be involved and hopefully we're able to pick the right team and shape to go and continue what we did last week."

 

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