Manager Paul Hurst has spoken to iFollow Iron ahead of his side’s Leasing.com Trophy group stage clash at former side Grimsby Town.
United head to Blundell Park on Tuesday night looking to get their first victory of the season.
“It’s another game to look forward to, and the first match I’ve been back there for since I left there,” he explained.
“The lads who weren’t available at the weekend won’t be available on the night. Most of the squad from the Carlisle game will be at Blundell Park for this one. There may be some changes but not vast ones.
“Every time you step foot on that pitch in a competitive first team game, it matters. We want to try and win a game of football and it just happens to be against our local rivals.
“What we have to try to do is get that win and see if that helps build a bit of confidence. When you’re in a competitive environment, which we are, you want to win and it doesn’t matter what the competition is, we’ll be going out to do that.
“Michael (Jolley) has had a very good start to the season and they’ve also got a Carabao Cup game against Macclesfield next Tuesday, with the winner getting the chance to go to Chelsea. Just because it’s a different competition, he won’t want to lose. He’ll do what feels right for the ‘longer game’, rather than getting sucked into facing the local rivals. We’d be doing what we’re doing, whether it’s Sunderland or Leicester U21s who we’d be facing.”
The manager also provided an update on injuries, starting with Andy Butler who hobbled off at the weekend.
He continued: “We’re hoping it will only be that game he misses. A lot of bruising and swelling has come out on his foot since the weekend. We’re seeing that as a positive because Michael (McBride, head of medican science) is confident of knowing what that injury is. We’re hopeful he’ll be back training on Thursday.”
James Perch will return to the squad as his three-match league suspension doesn’t include the Grimsby game, with the boss adding: “It’s a game he can be involved in and one that gets him match minutes rather than just on the training ground for when he is back available after the weekend.”
Meanwhile, the boss confirmed the periods of time Kgosi Ntlhe and Jordan Hallam face out after missing the weekend.
He said: “Kgosi has not quite got a fracture in his back but it will develop into one if he’s not rested, so we’re thinking we’ll lose him for a minimum of six weeks of rest and that’s before coming back. It heightened the need for a left-back, bringing Junior (Brown) in.
“Jordan Hallam has been on the bench for us this season and has done something similar to Lee Novak, rupturing ankle ligaments and will be out for a minimum of two months.”
See much more from Paul Hurst and Harrison McGahey on iFollow Iron. Click here to sign-up.