Cambridge United’s squad players encouraged to take their opportunity during Ipswich Town clash in Papa John’s Trophy
Assistant head coach Gary Waddock has challenged the players that start for Cambridge United tomorrow night to ‘stake a claim’ for a place in the side for this weekend’s Sky Bet League One clash with Port Vale.
The U’s are expected to ring the changes for Ipswich Town’s visit to the Abbey Stadium in the Papa John’s Trophy – a game in which they will need to better Arsenal Under-21s’ result against Northampton Town to stand any chance of progressing through to the knockout stages.
And Waddock wants to see those that have struggled for minutes in recent weeks to make the most of their opportunity to impress.
“It gives them an opportunity to stake a claim,” he said. “The biggest thing is they have to perform. If they’re waiting and waiting and they have the opportunity to start and they don’t turn up or don’t perform, it doesn't give them the chance to play in the league games.
“They have to make sure they take their opportunities when it crops up.”
Two players that are expected to feature against the Tractor Boys are Fejiri Okenabirhie and Saikou Janneh.
Both players are yet to establish themselves since arriving at the club in the summer, but Waddock believes they are ‘getting closer’ to the levels required after a period of training.
“Both of them are getting closer. Again it goes back to the opportunity,” he added. “They’ll be involved tomorrow evening and they’ve got a chance to stake a claim for the weekend.
“Both are in a position where they’ve trained really well and really hard so now it’s a match situation and in many respects that is where you’re judged.”
The competition itself is derided in certain quarters, with many seeing it as an unwelcome distraction to league and other cup commitments.
However, Waddock has insisted United will be looking to pick up maximum points and extend their interest in the tournament beyond the group phase.
“We want to win the game, that’s for sure. Any competition or any game we go into we want to win so that’s our main focus at the moment,” he said.
“We would like to perform well (and) we would like those players who do go into the team to play well to give us a headache for the weekend.
“We’re approaching it in a positive way to try and win it.”
Waddock also revealed that goalkeeper Will Mannion has returned to training from a knee injury and could deputise between the posts in place of Dimi Mitov.
READ MORE: Head coach Mark Bonner urges Cambridge United players to ‘roll up sleeves and crack on’
