AFC Totton
Healthy battles to fight for selection
For the first time this season, manager Steve Hollick, has a selection dilemma, with 19 squad members in contention for tonight’s game against Mangotsfield United.
Mike Gosney and Nick Watts are both returning to the squad, giving Hollick some food for thought, but he knows how important tonight’s game is for the squad: “The tricky dilemma for me is that we need to get back to winning ways.
“We need to field the strongest team possible, but I have no doubt that the players who miss out will be professional and accept my decision. The added pressure of fighting for their place should ensure they leave the pitch giving everything they have in a Totton shirt.”
With the squad slowly creeping back up in numbers after a sizeable amount of injuries already this season, Hollick sees the battle to be in the starting line up as healthy and friendly competition between the squad.
“We have a good squad with a nice balance of experience and youth, but we need to start being more consistent in our performances – that will come from all sticking together and working towards the same goals. That includes everyone, from me to the kit man, to continue to do things professionally.
“I’m excited about tonight as we will have a strong starting eleven, and a strong bench-full of choices should we need something different. We now have real competition across the park, from the goalkeeper to the strikers and they will have to prove their worth to wear the shirt.”
The only absentee from the Mangotsfield game is Mark Lilley, who will be put through his paces by Josh Ward, our Strength and Conditioning coach, prior to the game as he finalises his rehab programme. He is close to full fitness after a lengthy time on the side lines.
Tonight’s squad will be chosen from: Mowthorpe, Silvestre, Hibberd, Diaper, Hunt, Wilson, Dempsey, Roden, Williams, Alexander, Burgess, Allen, Gosney, Rawkins, Watts, Juerschick, Knight, Sherborne, Edwards.
