James Husband happy to be a middle man for boss Neil Critchley at Blackpool

The 26-year-old was a second-half replacement for central defender Michael Nottingham during Blackpool’s 2-0 defeat at Gillingham on Saturday.

With Husband facing competition from recent signing Luke Garbutt and Demetri Mitchell in his favoured position of left-back, a move into the centre might secure him more game-time.

Husband said: “I’m more than happy to play wherever the gaffer needs me to.

“I’ve had conversations with the gaffer before about where I’m going to play and we’ll just play it by ear.

“The competition in the squad is very high now, so there are going to be boys that are disappointed. That’s just how it is now.

“But with performances like the one we delivered on Saturday, the lads can have no qualms about keeping their spot because there are boys waiting behind.

“I’m happy to be back (from injury) but the result I’m not too happy with.”

Husband’s cameo was his first league action this season, having picked up a hamstring injury on the eve of the campaign.

The defender suffered the setback in the warm-up prior to Blackpool’s EFL Trophy game against Barrow three weeks ago.

“It was nice to be back,” he added. “The timing of the injury wasn’t ideal but it’s tough going.

“Training is hard, games are hard and we’re going to pick up injuries through the season.

“We have to be ready and recover as fast as we can, but the competition in the squad is big now, so everyone has to be raring to go.

“We’ve got competition everywhere, and with performances like that boys are going to struggle to keep their places.

“We have to learn very quickly, otherwise people are going to take your spot in this squad.”

n Blackpool’s Christmas schedule has got busier after their League One trip to Sunderland was switched to Tuesday, December 22.

The Stadium of Light match was scheduled for a week on Saturday but has been postponed due to the Black Cats’ international call-ups.

It leaves the Seasiders with a 10-day break this month between their EFL Trophy tie at Accrington Stanley next Tuesday and the league visit to Crewe Alexandra on Saturday 17.