Cambridge United boss Neil Harris discusses plans for experimenting ahead of League One trip to Barnsley

Neil Harris has hinted that he will not make wholesale changes to his Cambridge United side for the run-in.

With the U’s looking like League One relegation certainties, Harris was asked if he would be tempted to experiment with personnel and tactics in a bid to get a headstart with his preparations for next season.

However, ahead of Saturday’s trip to Barnsley, Harris insisted that he would only give opportunities to players that have earned it.

He said: “I don’t think there’s any issue in what we’re doing structurally. If you watch the games, we give very little away and barring Stevenage we’ve created a lot of chances.

“We’re absolutely fine structurally, but yes the thought process over the coming weeks might be to adjust the formation, the style of play and giving people opportunities. Of course that thought process goes through my mind, but then also we’re talking about a culture shift – I’m not talking about us playing really poorly or individuals not being committed. We’re falling short in both boxes and we have to try to find a way to address that.

“It’s a cross between putting faith in players that have done well in games and putting faith in players that are going to be here in the future because they’re under contract. And then also giving opportunities to people that haven’t had many at the moment – or they’re trying to earn contracts for next year. It’s finding the balance to do that.

“I want to win on Saturday at Oakwell, that’s my thought process. I want to win a game of football. I don’t like losing games – we’ve lost four in a row in two weeks and that hurts.

“Searching for a formula? To a certain degree yes, but I think we’ve also played very well at times. We’re not a million miles off. We have to make sure we fall the right side of those margins.

“And also I’ll only give people an opportunity when they deserve it. It’s not just about throwing 15 and 16-year-olds in just because they’re at the football club. They have to showcase that they deserve to play and they’re good enough to play. And also, if you put youngsters in that aren’t ready, that can do them more harm than good.

“That’s one way of looking at it. The other way is that senior players will only get the opportunity if they deserve it.”

Having parted company with Darrell Clarke earlier this month, this weekend’s hosts are currently under the interim charge of former Republic of Ireland international Conor Hourihane.

Barnsley’s record at Oakwell has been poor this term – they have won just five out of a possible 18 at home – while Cambridge have also performed relatively well on the road since Harris returned to the club in February.

And the boss is hoping that both of those aspects will work in his side’s favour.

“Our last three away games we’ve played very well. Crawley, we deserved to win and comfortably won. Wigan we shouldn’t have got beat and Blackpool we definitely should have won the game,” he added.

“I look at them (games) and we’ve played really well on the road. We’ve played with real confidence, with belief and scored some goals.

“No game is a free hit. We come off the back of a disappointing run and there’s been some strong, honest conversations. Let’s go with some freedom, let’s go and attack the game. Every game is a one-off game now so let’s go and enjoy it and make sure we’re better in both boxes than the opponent – that’s all that’s missing for us at the moment.

“We’re looking forward to it. I know Barnsley’s home record isn’t great but I was surprised to see Clarkely leave the football club. I was surprised at the timing of it but that probably shows modern-day football, ownership models and how they believe things should be done. Clarkey is a good football man who has been successful in his career.

“They’ve made a change and what comes, we’ll have to see. They had a game last week and didn’t change a great deal, but that could change with a week of work on the training pitch. So when you don’t know what the opponent is going to do you have to focus on yourself.

“I’ll have to think about the adjustments we’ll make to the way that we set-up and that’s been our full focus this week.”

Sullay Kaikai has been struggling with illness this week but he should be fit enough to make the trip. That aside, Harris has no fresh injury concerns, while none of those currently sidelined will return.