Fleetwood Town head coach Joey Barton says he will put out a strong side against Leicester City’s Under 21s in the Checkatrade Trophy on Tuesday night.
The Cod Army enter this season’s competition full of confidence after six games unbeaten in Sky Bet League One, with the most recent being the 1-1 draw away at promotion favourites Sunderland on Saturday.
64 teams enter the Checkatrade Trophy at the group stages, with Town put in a group with the young Foxes’ side, Rochdale and Bury.
Fleetwood reached the quarter-finals in the competition last year, and will be looking to go further this time around with Barton putting out a strong side to keep the momentum, and that winning feeling going around the club.
“We obviously have one eye on the Checkatrade because financially it is a good competition for the club,” said Barton.
“This competition is a chance for teams to play a cup final game at Wembley, which for us is more realistic than the Carabao Cup. On Tuesday we will go into the game strong, looking to progress in the competition.
“It’s important that we maintain and pick up that winning habit because it is a good one to have. We are on a good little run at the moment and for us, it is important we keep that going.”
When asked about what type of side will be picked ahead of kick-off against the Foxes at Highbury, Barton stated he’d be fielding a strong side, with the intention of winning the match.
He added: “We are going to go strong on Tuesday night and pick a side to go and win.
“It is important that we pick that kind of side at every opportunity available, and that happened at Leicester in the Carabao, as I felt the lads out there could go and deliver.
“However it wasn’t to be, and unfortunately on the night it didn’t happen for us and the lads ran into a really good side with plenty of experience.
“Regarding our opponents, I am not sure which way this Leicester City side will go; but we will just go and keep our side of the street clean, and go and put out the best side that we can to win.”