It’s a case of more the merrier for boss Steven Schumacher after he fully utilised his squad in their latest pre-season test.
Schumacher sent out a much-changed line-up at Fleetwood Town with a handful of players getting a first starting chance of the summer in the Whites’ penultimate public work-out.
Wanderers then made several changes during the second half before securing a 1-1 draw through Thierry Gale’s late goal and Schumacher confirmed the plan was to get as many players as possible up to speed for the start of the season at Sheffield Wednesday in the Carabao Cup on Saturday-week.
“Pre-season is about trying to get tactically organised and keep everybody as physically on the same sort of level as possible, because an injury here and there and if someone hasn't played any minutes in pre-season and they’re needed on the opening day, then that's not wise,” said Wanderers’ head coach.
“So we have to make sure that we manage the load of every player. That's why there was a lot of changes today, because there was big output, certainly for the lads who started on Saturday, so we wanted to make changes and try and freshen it up and then we'll do the same again on Saturday and get a team out there ready to go and compete.
“At this stage of pre-season, it's just about keep trying to get better, keep trying to improve. The performance today was okay, could have been better, but not a nightmare either.”
Schumacher retained just three of the starters from last Saturday’s 0-0 draw with Everton and gave youth an opportunity in the shape of Toby Ritchie and a central defensive pairing of Sam Inwood and Lewis Temple in front of goalkeepers David Harrington and Nathan Broome.
“It’s so important for Lewis and Sam, in particular, and Dave Harrington and Broomie coming on as well, it's all good experience for them,” Schumacher added. “If this is the level, that certainly for Lewis and Sam, that there are a lot of clubs asking us about them, wanting to take them on loan, then they've got to be able to handle teams like this.
“I thought they did really well, because it wasn't an easy test today against two good centre-forwards, so they've done well, good experience and 90 minutes in the tank for them as well, so a pleasing evening for them.”
Temple, Inwood and McAtee were the only players to play the full game against League Two Town who led through Ched Evans’ goal early in the second half.
With Schumacher utilising his bench and sending on some of his more established players the Whites hit back with a dominant finish which finally saw Gale find a way through to equalise five minutes from the end.
“I thought all the subs that came on did well, changed the game,” Schumacher told Wanderers TV. “Obviously, Shees (Josh Sheehan) impacts it, how important he is and keeps us ticking and gets us moving, passing the ball through the lines.
“I thought Lucas Stevenson did well when he came on, added some energy and some speed on that right-hand side, and Thierry again, similar. We know what he's about. His end-product can be better, his decision-making sometimes can be better, but he's produced a moment today and got himself a goal.
“It looked like Marcus (Forss) might have glanced it in, but he tells me that he never, but it was pleasing not to lose the game. I would have liked to have come here and won it late on and got that confidence, but, as I say, it's another step in the right direction.”
Watch the full post-match interview from the boss on Wanderers TV