Ross gives very strong indication of team for Trophy semi
BOSS VOWS: CHANGES WILL NOT WEAKEN US
I would think it will be the strongest side I have put out in this competition so far. Jack Ross
JACK Ross will make changes for Sunderland’s Checkatrade Trophy semi-final tonight – but says he will field the strongest line-up to have featured in the competition so far.
The Black Cats take on Bristol Rovers at the Memorial Stadium the prize for the winners a Wembley final date with Portsmouth at the end of the month.
This is Sunderland’s seventh game in the competition.
Ross has used the Trophy to rest some of his first-teamers to keep them fresh for the promotion campaign, as an opportunity to give squad players game time and to give fringe players and a handful of youngsters a chance.
There will be an element of that again -but Ross is conscious of the fact a trip to Wembley is within Sunderland’s grasp.
He also points out this will be the Black Cats’ toughest game yet as they face a fellow League One side, having seen off League Two teams Carlisle, Morecambe and Notts County and the under-21 teams of Stoke City, Newcastle United and Manchester City so far.
He said: “I would think it will be the strongest side I have put out in this competition so far.
“It is an important game for us. “What we have done throughout the competition is pick teams aimed at winning games.
“We have been able to make changes at different times but those changes have taken different forms. “If you look at the Morecambe game in isolation, for example, that was a very young squad.
“The only reason we picked that team was because it would have taken a very strange set of circumstances for us to go out of the tournament that night.
“In other games, players who have needed game time have played alongside a mixture of players who have been playing regularly in the league.
“If you look at the last two knockout games against Newcastle and Manchester City, they were both against under-21 sides and that affects the dynamics of your selection – it can be dictated to an extent by the opposition.
“As the cup competition progresses, other factors enter the equation.
“One, it is the stage of the tournament. Two, it is the first time we have played a team in our league. “Three, it is an away game against a team in our league, whereas the only previous away game was against Morecambe when we were virtually through from the group stage.”
Ross has one or two players who are carrying minor knocks and will make a late decision on those.
Donald Love and Bryan Oviedo will be absent as they continue to recover from injuries.
Ross added: “There are two or three we need to check on. We might take them or they might not be involved.
“Apart from that, Donald is not yet match-fit.
“Bryan is back out on the grass with us now but he has not done anything for the last few weeks.
“As for the others, this game is in the middle of a busy schedule - but it has been a busy schedule all the time, really, it is nothing different to what we face the rest of the time.
“The players feel good about themselves, they are in a good flow.
“We would not take any risks with anyone who has an issue we felt might rule them out for the weekend or beyond that - but everyone who is fit and healthy will be considered.”