Neil Critchley explains Bez Lubala's recent absence from Blackpool's match-day squads

Neil Critchley says it's "purely a tactical" decision to leave Bez Lubala out of Blackpool's match-day squad.
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The 23-year-old hasn't featured for the Seasiders since the 2-0 defeat at Ipswich Town on February 6.

His last start, meanwhile, was the 5-0 thrashing of Wigan Athletic on January 26.

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Lubala, signed from Crawley Town for an undisclosed fee during the summer, hasn't even been able to make Blackpool's bench in recent weeks.

During Tuesday night's 1-1 draw against Burton Albion, youth-team striker Brad Holmes was preferred to Lubala on the substitute's bench.

Explaining the winger's absence, Critchley told The Gazette: “On the bench we feel like we need someone who can get a goal, a forward.

“Brad has got a record of doing that in the youth-team (scoring 19 goals in 20 games), so it’s purely a tactical reason.

Lubala has been left out of Blackpool's squads in recent weeksLubala has been left out of Blackpool's squads in recent weeks
Lubala has been left out of Blackpool's squads in recent weeks
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“When you look at your bench, you try and fill all of those scenarios and ask yourself - ‘what if you need a goal?’

“Brad is bang in form and playing games on a regular basis for the Under-18s, so we felt he deserved that decision.”

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