Blackpool boss Neil Critchley welcomes options to plug defensive leaks

James Husband returns, having served a one-match suspension for the straight red card he picked up in the 3-2 defeat to Lincoln City.

New signing Daniel Gretarsson should be available. The Iceland international did not feature against Ipswich Town at the weekend, having only arrived in the country a few days earlier.

Dan Ballard, who is currently away with Northern Ireland, should return from international duty today or tomorrow.

Critchley will be keen to have as many defensive players as possible in contention after Blackpool conceded seven goals in their last two League One games.

The head coach said: “I thought James Husband was excellent against Lincoln up until the mistake that cost us the second goal. He comes back into the reckoning.

“Dan Ballard comes back from international duty at the back end of the week and Daniel Gretarsson will have a full week of training as well.

“I know it’s seven goals conceded in two games but for some reason I feel, ‘How have we conceded seven?’ I’m not sure – it’s one of those things at the moment.

“We just have to keep working hard, remain positive and keep doing what we’re doing because we believe in what we’re doing.”

Despite Jordan Thorniley’s strong display against Accrington Stanley in the EFL Trophy last week, Critchley opted to play right-back Ollie Turton alongside Marvin Ekpiteta in the centre against Ipswich.

“It was a tough decision,” Critchley conceded. “I thought Jordan was good in the week, as was James Husband, but I thought Ollie was good against Ipswich.

“You look at their goals – I don’t think it was anything to do with centre-backs or the back four. We just seem to be getting punished at the moment.

“I don’t think it was a system fault or a personnel fault. There are just isolated moments when we need to do better and that seems to be different individuals in different games.”