Charlton Athletic manager Alan Pardew has indicated that he will be making some changes to his starting line-up for tomorrow's Carling Cup First Round match against Yeovil Town.
The ex-Glovers player has stated that he will be giving Fulham winger Hameur Bouazza his full debut, whilst Matt Holland, who was also on the bench for their 2-0 win over Swansea City will also be in their eleven. However, Pardew has also suggested that he may also make some changes at the back to protect his first choice central defenders. He insists though that his side will be taking the competition seriously:
"Of course the Carling Cup is very serious for us because the finance which comes from a good cup run will help me. It is a competition which Championship sides have not really done well in, so we hope to do well. But I'm going to have to play a couple of my players because Matty Holland and Bouazza both need a game, so I am going to change the side. I don't want to make too many changes but I will have to see how my two centre halves are. I can't risk any of them because I've only got two."
The Glovers are unlikely to significantly vary their squad for tomorrow night's game - basically because they can't! There were no reported injury issues from Saturday's game, but Portsmouth will not allow Asmir Begovic to become cup-tied and so Josh Wagenaar will make his debut for the club.
Aside from that, Russell Slade's main concern will be that the Carling Cup allows clubs to field seven substitutes and the Glovers don't have enough players to do that! As a result, unless any new faces arrive today, then either Slade will play with a short bench, or the likes of Lloyd Irish, Owen Irish and Ren Turnock who are training with the first team squad may get some experience of the occasion. Defenders Rob Fitzgerald and Jordan Street were the only two players missed out of Saturday's squad, and whilst Fitzgerald should definitely travel, Street's fractured wrist which is currently in a light cast will require a medical decision to be made.
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11 August 2008 : 
