Maintaining form on Redfearn's agenda
leedsunited.com 20/3/15
Neil Redfearn admits it will be a "big ask" of his side to play their third game in the space of a week, but the head coach says maintaining the momentum will come into his thinking when picking the team to face Blackpool on Saturday.
United travel to Bloomfield Road just three days after the midweek victory at Fulham as Redfearn’s side look to extend their current unbeaten run to five games.
"The lads are really upbeat," said the head coach. "We’re on a good run, playing well and looking forward to every game.
"It’s just a case of making sure the lads who are selected are fit and strong and available, ready for the game."
Midfield pair Rodolph Austin and Granddi Ngoyi are both pushing for returns to contention after recent injury lay-offs.
Asked whether he may be tempted into changes at Blackpool, Redfearn replied: "You don’t want to go against the fact that you’ve got to play well to get in the side.
"They’re playing well and winning, you want to keep that momentum.
"It is a big ask – playing Wednesday and Saturday. But we’ve got a young group of players who are strong.
"What we want to do is pick a side that’s going to beat Blackpool. We’ll make sure we go there and make a really good account of ourselves."
Sam Byram marked his return to the starting line-up by netting the opening goal at Craven Cottage, taking his tally to the season, and Redfearn thinks the 21-year-old is thriving in the right-wing position he has occupied since January.
"I think the role suits him," he said. "He’s comfortable in that role and I think he’s a good footballer.
"But what I do think, particularly with young players, is that they’ve got to have an open mind to where they can play and where they can affect games.
"I think it would be wrong to pigeonhole them to just one position because I think they’re that good, the scope is great and we can do lots with these young players.
"They’ve had that mindset throughout their careers, it’s something that I’ve been really big on when I worked in the Academy; being comfortable in area of the pitch. You can see that they are."
Neil Redfearn admits it will be a "big ask" of his side to play their third game in the space of a week, but the head coach says maintaining the momentum will come into his thinking when picking the team to face Blackpool on Saturday.
United travel to Bloomfield Road just three days after the midweek victory at Fulham as Redfearn’s side look to extend their current unbeaten run to five games.
"The lads are really upbeat," said the head coach. "We’re on a good run, playing well and looking forward to every game.
"It’s just a case of making sure the lads who are selected are fit and strong and available, ready for the game."
Midfield pair Rodolph Austin and Granddi Ngoyi are both pushing for returns to contention after recent injury lay-offs.
Asked whether he may be tempted into changes at Blackpool, Redfearn replied: "You don’t want to go against the fact that you’ve got to play well to get in the side.
"They’re playing well and winning, you want to keep that momentum.
"It is a big ask – playing Wednesday and Saturday. But we’ve got a young group of players who are strong.
"What we want to do is pick a side that’s going to beat Blackpool. We’ll make sure we go there and make a really good account of ourselves."
Sam Byram marked his return to the starting line-up by netting the opening goal at Craven Cottage, taking his tally to the season, and Redfearn thinks the 21-year-old is thriving in the right-wing position he has occupied since January.
"I think the role suits him," he said. "He’s comfortable in that role and I think he’s a good footballer.
"But what I do think, particularly with young players, is that they’ve got to have an open mind to where they can play and where they can affect games.
"I think it would be wrong to pigeonhole them to just one position because I think they’re that good, the scope is great and we can do lots with these young players.
"They’ve had that mindset throughout their careers, it’s something that I’ve been really big on when I worked in the Academy; being comfortable in area of the pitch. You can see that they are."