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Vaughan set for first Pool start
DAVID Vaughan is in pole position to make his full Blackpool debut at Southampton in front of Sky TV cameras.
The 200,000 newcomer has been forced to wait patiently for a chance since his arrival from Real Sociedad.
Seasiders boss Simon Grayson insists he isn't concerned about leaving a big-money star on the subs' bench.
But with just one point from nine in the bag after a difficult opening to the season, the manager is almost certain to turn to Vaughan at the St Mary's.
"How long can I keep leaving a 200,000 player out? If we keep doing well I can leave him out all season," said Grayson.
"But players are fully aware that if we play poorly then I can change the team and I've got players who are dying to get in. David Vaughan is one of those.
Is Vaughan ready to start, should Grayson stick with 4-4-2? Leave your comments below.
"I think he has shown already that he is willing and able because when he's come off the bench he has been affecting games.
"There will be an opportunity for him somewhere down the line, probably sooner than he thinks, when he will be in the starting 11.
"But one thing to point out is that although David might have cost money, I've got players in on free transfers who are equally raring to go as he is.
"That's what we want. Players who are desperate to play for the team, no matter how much they cost, and it is down to me to decide when to play the players who are not in the 11 at this moment in time."
The 25-year-old was signed as a left winger, but the early success of on-loan Liverpool man Adam Hammill in that position has been a factor in Vaughan's spell on the bench.
At Southampton, Vaughan could be given a role on the left side of a central midfield three, with Grayson reverting to a 4-5-1 formation.
"He can play in a couple of positions and central midfield is one of them," confirmed the boss.
"When we've played 4-5-1, he has played as an out and out left winger or tucked in as the central left midfielder.
"It's the same if we play 4-4-2. He can play in both positions again so he is an adaptable sort of player.
"He can bring something else to the team that other people haven't got so he's close to a starting role."
The main reason Vaughan hasn't got a chance so far is because of a lack of fitness.
Real Sociedad returned to pre-season training much later than Blackpool, so when Vaughan signed for the Seasiders he was well behind his team-mates in terms of sharpness.
However, a month of training, plus several appearances from the substitutes' bench, has led Grayson to believe that the former Crewe man is ready if required.
"He is not a million miles away now from being fully fit," said the boss. He came in a few weeks ago and hadn't got a lot of football under his belt.
>> Grayson hoping for new faces before deadline
For more from Simon Grayson, pick up a copy of Wednesday's Blackpool Gazette.
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Weather for Blackpool
Thursday 09 February 2012
Today
Light sleet
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