Robinson ready to make changes

Stephen Robinson

ATHLETIC are set to rest players for tonight's final Checkatrade Trophy group game at Blackburn Rovers (7.30pm kick-off) - but don't take that as an indication that the club are taking the test lightly.

Stephen Robinson is set to rest his most weary bodies at Ewood Park tonight as he goes in search of a win that would send the club into the competition's last-32 knockout stage and land another £10,000 reward.

While wanting to put out a potent line-up against a Rovers team mainly made up of players aged under 21, though, he is concerned about potential burn-out ahead of Saturday's home fixture against AFC Wimbledon.

"Our preparation is meticulous but it's a really difficult one to assess as you don't know what they (Blackburn) will put out," Robinson said.

GAMES

"They could have first-team players out, boys that need games. Wes Brown played in the last game but will he play in this one?

"We don't know, so it is more about us. We want to progress in the competition but also to protect players at the same time.

"We also want to look at options to take people out of the firing line and rest their bodies.

"Asking players to play three games a week is difficult and the difference in amount of games between here and Scotland is huge, with the amount of time you get on the training field unfortunately very minimal.

"We will be prepared in our own terms.

"What we have found before is in a third game of the week, we really struggled. So we are conscious of that.

"With Ryan McLaughlin's injury record, playing him for three or four games in a row is something we are very aware of.

"We have to be clever with what we do. But we know that not only financially, but also for morale, what success in cup competitions can do.

"It is very important to us."

MISSING

Robinson also revealed that while Carl Winchester (hamstring) should be available again very soon, Paul Green (calf) will be missing for around two weeks.

Both players had to come off early against Doncaster at the weekend, but Ryan Flynn (ankle) is fine.

Meanwhile, one player whose future seems to lie away from Athletic is Luke Woodland.

The midfielder, restricted to one league and Checkatrade Trophy appearance a piece so far and whose short-term deal expires in January, played as a trialist for Bolton's reserves last week.

"Luke was offered the chance to have a trial at Bolton and I didn't feel it was right to stand in his way," Robinson said. "We haven't been able to give him the opportunities.

"He is one of our lower-paid players and comes a long way in to train. You have to treat players as human beings."

Athletic (probable, 4-4-2): Ripley; Law, Clarke, Burgess, Dunne; Jahraldo-Martin, Banks, Fane, Flynn; Erwin, Mckay. Subs (from): Kettings, Dummigan, Wilson, Reckord, Klok, Winchester, Croft, Ladapo, Osei, McLaughlin.