Stoke City boss Michael O’Neill has hinted at how he will approach his team selection for tomorrow night’s clash with Nottingham Forest.
While the Reds will go out at the City Ground fighting to guarantee a play-off spot, their opponents have little more than pride to play for.
The Potters secured Championship survival last weekend, when they saw off Brentford 1-0.
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O’Neill has included a number of young players among his substitutes since the season restarted.
But has said they need to “do more” to break into the starting XI, as he insisted he won’t intentionally look to make changes to his side against Forest.
“They have to earn the right to play, that’s the reality of the situation,” he said of the club’s up-and-coming talent.
“We have been dependent on a core group of maybe 13 or 14 players with a young bench, the squad is relatively young outside the starting line-up.
“The young players are going to have to do more to get into the team because we will bring new players to the club in the off season.
“We need to see more of them, they’re all good lads but they have to show us a bit more than what we have seen to date.”
The hosts need a point on the banks of the Trent, to make sure of a top six finish and extend their campaign.
Defeat for either Forest or sixth-placed Cardiff City would hand Swansea City a lifeline, should they win their match and secure a swing in goal difference.
