Ahead of Saturday’s fixture against Southend United, we spoke to Mark Hughes.
Speaking ahead of the game, Hughes discussed the benefits of a rare break in the schedule, the return of key players, Hayden Atkinson’s recent league debut and the importance of supporters at Brunton Park.
Here is everything we learnt:
Time to reset
“We gave the guys a little bit more time than we normally give.
“We just felt that it was a good time to take a break, enjoy some downtime and get ready for the challenges ahead of us. We took our opportunity this week, came back in and the lads worked really well.
“So yeah, we should be in fine fettle for the weekend.”
Managing a relentless schedule
“You’ve got to pick and choose the moments to do it. Obviously, it was a good win away from home after a long trek as well.
“It’s a long, hard season and you’ve got to recognise that the lads are putting a huge amount of effort into everything we’re doing, not only the games themselves but the travelling as well.”
A positive start for Hayden Atkinson
“He did very well. He was there on merit, it was an opportunity for him to come in and I felt it was the right game for him.
“He acquitted himself really well on the day so it was a good start for the young kid.”
Fresh competition in the squad
“I just felt we needed a little bit of freshness put back into the team and that worked out well. I thought the team was good in regard to their energy levels so that was important.”
Competition raising standards
“It’s important that there’s competition for places and when people start coming back from injuries then obviously that adds to that.
“We’re always pleased when we’ve got a full complement. We’re not quite there yet, but welcoming back guys that have had an influence on the team this season is important for us.”
Checking on Jack Ellis
“We’ll have to check on Jack. He took part in training today and we’ll see how he is tomorrow and make sure there’s no reaction.
“He feels quite confident about it but he’s just got a little bit of discomfort, so we’ll see how he is in the next 24 hours.”
Positive injury updates
“They (Junior Luamba and Callum Whelan) joined in full training today which is important for them and for us, so it’s good to see them out playing their part.
“Initially you part train them, dip them in and dip them out and make sure they can cope with the added load, but today was their first day of full training.
“They’re still a couple of weeks away because it’s only the beginning, but they’re certainly on the final stretch now.”
Harvey Macadam’s return
“Good to have him back. Obviously that relationship between him and Gilly (Alex Gilliead) in midfield has served us well.
“Harvey’s having a big influence on how we operate so it’s good to have him as an option again.”
Remembering the reverse fixture
“I thought we did really well when we went there. We caused them a lot of problems, certainly on the break, and we looked really good and dangerous.
“They’re having a decent season and they’ve caused problems for a lot of teams so we’ve got to be mindful of that.
“But given the week we’ve had, we’ve had a good chance to recover, get our energy back and we’re ready to go again.”
The importance of the supporters
“We’re really looking forward to it. I think up to this point about eight thousand have already been sold so that’s a huge number in itself.
“When we get a big crowd there’s always that atmosphere, that crackle in the stadium that you want to tap into.
“We’re going to need that support, especially at this stage of the season. There’ll be times when we’re not flowing particularly well and that’s when you need that unconditional support from the fans.”
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