Blackpool head into their last pre-season friendly a week before the EFL Cup first round with a slim squad and a new face in the starting line-up.
Squad shortages ahead of cup tie
The Seasiders are operating with six first-team players unavailable for the match against Port Vale at Bloomfield Road. The absentees include defenders Fraser Horsfall and Michael Ihiekwe, midfielder Albie Morgan, Leighton Clarkson, and forward Tom Bloxham. From Wednesday night’s 1-1 draw with Blackburn Rovers, George Honeyman is omitted from the matchday squad while Oluchi Nwankwo—a teenager forced off during that behind-closed-doors game—also misses out.
"Blackpool remain thin on numbers for their final pre-season test"
New loan signing starts
In more positive news for supporters, the club’s season-long loan acquisition Jordan Williams from Portsmouth comes straight into the starting XI. He will operate in a back three alongside Olly Casey and Zac Ashworth.
- Match: Blackpool v Port Vale, final pre-season friendly (at Bloomfield Road)
- Context: Seven days until EFL Cup first round away to Grimsby Town
- Unavailable: six first-team players and one withdrawing since the midweek friendly
Team selection
The manager selected the following starting XI:
| Position | Player |
|---|---|
| Goalkeeper | Bailey Peacock-Farrell |
| Defence | Jordan Williams, Olly Casey, Zac Ashworth |
| Midfield | Ilmari Niskanen, Jordan Brown, Karoy Anderson, Josh Bowler, Hayden Coulson |
| Attack | Niall Ennis, Dale Taylor |
The bench includes a number of options for the second half or tactical changes: Franco Ravizzoli, Charlie Brier, Andy Lyons, CJ Hamilton, Oli Hunter, Kylian Kouassi, Theo Upton, Billy Whaite, Spencer Knight, George Elder, Jack Richardson.
What this means for the start of the season
With the cup tie at Grimsby Town one week away, the selection reflects a balancing act between giving new signings game time and managing a limited squad. The absence of multiple senior players leaves places open for those returning from injury or new recruits to stake a claim before competitive fixtures begin.
Supporters attending Bloomfield Road can expect to see the club's new loan recruit immediately involved, plus a mixture of established squad members and fringe players on the bench. How the team performs in this final tune-up may influence selection decisions for the match at Grimsby.
