Helicoptering in central defenders

I know we are all concerned about the injury crisis affecting central defence, but it is difficult to move the dial here in the short term.  Central defence is overwhelmingly about partnerships.  You can try to helicopter someone into the team (think Carl Starfelt two years ago) but it seldom provides an immediate return.

If we only have two fit central defenders, Brendan will use the time he has to school them for the immediate challenges.  Liam Scales and Gustaf Lagerbielke will be spending a lot of time together this week.

You and I have discussed the need for significantly more wingers than we would have in the squad in earlier times, due to the five substitutes rule.  Most managers are reluctant to change defensive or central midfield players, meaning forwards are more commonly swapped out during games.

No surprise then that we are linked with another winger, this time 23-year-old Honduran, Luis Palma, who joined Aris Thessalonica in January 2022.  He would be our third new winger this window, with four others still in the first team squad (and that’s not counting Rocco Vata).  Surely at least one will move on?