Chris Forino is set to make a debut alongside some of Wanderers’ other new boys as the Whites launch their Carabao Cup campaign, writes Pete Oliver.
Forino was not involved in Saturday’s opening League One win at Leyton Orient after missing part of the pre-season preparation and the Whites' warm-up games with a thigh injury.
But Wanderers’ boss Ian Evatt confirmed the fit-again summer signing from Wycombe Wanderers will line up in defence along with George Johnston in Tuesday night’s first-round tie against Mansfield Town.
And the recent recruits that came off the bench at Brisbane Road in the weekend’s 2-1 win could also get a start against the Stags to give the Wanderers’ home fans a first look at John McAtee, Jay Matete and Jordi Osei-Tuti.
“We’ve got players that clearly need minutes, players that have missed a portion of pre-season and players that have just joined us and are getting used to how we do things,” said Evatt who revealed that Klaidi Lolos will sadly not join the home debutants after suffering an ankle injury at Orient following a challenge that left the Wanderers’ camp far from impressed and moved to take up the matter with the refereeing body the PGMOL.
“It's an opportunity to get them up to speed. They energised the game for us on Saturday which was great to see. It lifted the team and lifted the supporters and hopefully we can see more of that tomorrow night.”
Wanderers will show several changes to their starting line-up for the cup curtain-raiser against a Mansfield side which reached the fourth round of the competition last season and maintained their moment after promotion last season with a win at Barnsley on Friday night.
But despite a new-look line-up, Evatt will be aiming for a similar outcome to the result at Orient which gave the Whites’ season a flying start to take into back-to-back home game against Nigel Clough’s Town and Wrexham on Sunday.
“I've reminded the players today that when you play for this football club and manage this football club, you're expected to win every game,” added Evatt, who expects midfielder Kyle Dempsey to be back in contention for a place in the squad on Sunday after returning to training following a knee injury.
“Our main focus is the league. That's where our priority lies and so it should. But playing for this football club and being the manager of this football club brings a huge responsibility and tomorrow night is no different.
“We are expected to win the game so we have to go out there with the right mindset and attitude and try and make sure that happens.
“We will be taking it very seriously. We know they are more than capable and they have a very experienced manager who knows how to win football matches. There will be nothing taken for granted from us and we will be ready to go.
“The home campaign starts tomorrow and hopefully we can put in a really good performance.”
Watch the manager’s full pre-match interview on Wanderers TV HERE