Three new signings give Blackpool boss Neil Critchley top options

The Seasiders added three more players last week in Demetri Mitchell, Dan Kemp and Bez Lubala to make it 11 signings for the summer.

Ben Garrity and Joe Nuttall headed out on loan to Oldham Athletic and Northampton Town respectively.

With the transfer window remaining open until October 16, Blackpool still have plenty of time to make further additions.

And while the Seasiders remain keen to bolster their squad, with a centre-back thought to be high on their agenda, Critchley admits he’s satisfied with the business they’ve done already.

Ahead of tonight’s EFL Trophy opener at home to Barrow, he told The Gazette: “I was really pleased to get three more players in the building. I think it brings some good options and strengthens the squad at the top end of the pitch.

“We’ve tried to bring in something a bit different as well. When you’re playing against different teams and they’re creating different problems for you, we’ve got to try to find different solutions.

“Sometimes a change of personnel can do that because different players have different strengths and characteristics.

“Bringing Demetri in also strengthens the squad at the back, so I’m really pleased with that. The squad is getting stronger all the time.”

Mitchell was unable to play in Saturday’s friendly at Liverpool, having only signed on Friday night.

The left-back, released by Manchester United in June, had impressed on trial against Everton and Blackburn Rovers.

The 23-year-old has suffered serious injuries in recent years and Critchley admits it will take time to get him up to speed.

He said of Mitchell: “We had to go through Covid testing for the Liverpool game and unfortunately he signed after that, so he wasn’t available.

“We’ve got to be mindful of the fact he’s not played a lot of football in the last 12 months. We’ve got to make sure we build his fitness, build his minutes and then we’ll see the best of him as the season progresses.”