Town continue their pre-season friendly programme with a visit to Championship Millwall on Saturday afternoon (KO 3pm).

With the opening game of the League One season at home to Bolton Wanderers only a week away, manager Kieran McKenna was asked whether the team which would line-up at the Den would be close to what might be considered his first XI.

“I think with the strength of our squad, I’m not really interested in the thought of a first-choice XI,” he said, speaking after last week’s 3-0 win at AFC Wimbledon.

“I think if you want to have really, really good depth like we have, you can’t play the same XI every week.

“I’m not interested in what our first-choice XI is, I’m interested in having a really strong group of players and having the right team available for different games.

“At the moment, from this week we’ll start turning our eyes towards Bolton a little bit and what that game will look like and what team will play, and obviously we’re going to want a good amount of those players on the pitch against Millwall next weekend because it’s going to be a great challenge.

“But we’re not looking for that magic recipe of a first-choice XI because we’re going to have a strong squad, we’re going to have very capable depth of two players in each position and I’m going to have to use that squad over the course of a season.”

Is the idea of managers having a first XI or a best team perhaps a dated one these days? “Yes, at some clubs it is, obviously at the higher levels of the game it may be more prevalent. If you look at the top couple of teams in the Premier League you’d probably struggle to name their first XI.

“That doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the only way to do it but I think if you want to have a strong squad and have equal depth across two good players and two really strong people competing for each position.

“You don’t necessarily have to have a first-choice XI, I think you can train and develop the team in certain ways that certain games are going to suit some people more than they’re going to suit others and pick your team accordingly and that can enable you to stay fresh over the course of the season and people contribute in different ways at different times.”

As at Wimbledon, it’s likely most of those that start will play the full 90 minutes with the players not involved or making only brief appearances probably playing against Southend United in the final friendly of pre-season at Portman Road on Tuesday.

McKenna will hope winger Kyle Edwards is back from the knock which has kept him out of action since prior to the West Ham match, although the former West Brom man seems more likely to play against the Shrimpers than the Lions.

New signing Marcus Harness could make his first appearance in a Town shirt.

The game will see the Blues reunited with former goalkeeper Bartosz Bialkowski, while another former Town glovesman, Andy Marshall, is their keeper-coach.

Fans travelling to the game should note that Greater Anglia will be impacted by strikes on Saturday.

As of earlier in the week, the Blues had sold 420 tickets for the match with 40 remaining for sale and with a further allocation available on the day. Prices are £11.50 for adults, £8.50 for seniors (64-plus and under-22) and £6.50 for under-18s.

Photo: TWTD

grinch added 08:58 - Jul 23 Looking forward to season but got to say if we don't get a striker sorted we will get to Oct mid table which won't be good enough there is mot enough goal scorers in our current squad to ensure top finish we only have ones that will compliment a 20 goal striker look at teams who got promoted last season thats how they did it
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Len_Brennan added 09:00 - Jul 23 I think with McKenna this season, 'formation rotation' (don't know if that's an actual footballing term, yet) is going to be as much a feature as squad rotation. Obviously having up to 5 subs come on will allow for a complete change of play if necessary & with an intelligent, innovate manager, who has masses of self belief, I think we will regularly see 3-4-2-1 turning into 3-5-2, 4-3-3 & even a version of the old favourite 4-4-2 (with attacking full backs overlapping & alternating with wingers that can drop back & defend when called upon. It'll also change from game to game depending on the opposition. The fear with having a strong squad at this level though, is that a smart manager can overthink things sometimes.

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NthQldITFC added 10:03 - Jul 23 @burntmybuns "We need to protect our players in this fixture. Millwall were dirty against Colchester." ...and our stadium furniture too!
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TimmyH added 11:40 - Jul 23 Having to keep slapping myself that Millwall are in a league higher than us...see the name and think otherwise!
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Marinersnose added 11:47 - Jul 23 We have a strong squad of players and KMK has had time to work with most of them. I believe we have a decent forward line but no out and out goalscorer. My main concern is our left side. I haven't seen Leigh and Ndaba is stil young Penny not good enough. A strong left sided player is a must if Edwards is going to remain on the treatment table. For me KMK is a very astute tactical manager and this will no doubt prove to be a big asset with extra subs. I'm extremely positive of a top six finish maybe higher. The club is in a very good place imo the best for decades

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Nobbysnuts added 12:37 - Jul 23 The fact we haven't signed a quality striker is a big red flag for me.....and I agree with another post on here...forget about 'look at me I'm celina' if he wanted to come here he wouldn't of tried to get a move to some 2nd string Turkish sh#t show. Move on for Christ's sake.
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