The 22

[Chris Black come back]

McCann always talks about having his 22, so he has competition in every place. It is probably shorthand rather than a rule, but we have 23 senior players (and Straughan-Brown hasn't been loaned out yet, in addition) and we are getting a further attacking loan into the side:

Sharman-Lowe
Lawlor

Sterry
Nixon
Anderson
Olowu
McGrath
Wood
Senior
Maxwell

Broadbent
Bailey
Kelly
Clifton
Sbarra
Close
Westbrooke

Gibson
Ironside
Sharp
Molyneux
Yeboah
Hurst

Matchday squad is 18 and injuries always happen (Close, Westbrooke and Maxwell currently out) but with a fit squad, we are going to have five players who don't even make the bench and six if and when we get the attacking loan player into the club. That's a hefty squad we have now.

[Alan Southstand]

After today’s game, we have 21 fit. Maxwell we’re waiting on, Close still not ready. Westbrook hasn’t had a pre-season and neither has Clifton (who had a good 20 minutes today).

Mark my words, we’re going to need every one of them, including the lad who hasn’t joined us yet. If we keep playing like that, there will be teams cueing up to give us a very hard time physically.

[DonnyBazR0ver]

Totally agree. Taking all competitions into account, McCanns got to give everyone a fair crack and not overloading too many of our players. Plus, those on the bench, or not in the matchday squad need a path to get into the team where completion for places is genuine.