Joey Barton: I've decided on Fleetwood team to start against Wycombe in play-off semi-final

Joey Barton says none of his Fleetwood players have cut corners in the build-up to Friday's first leg

And Town’s head coach appreciates how difficult it has been for his players after their season was on hold for close to four months.

Speaking to the club’s website, Barton said:“The starting XI I’ve pretty much settled on for the game.

“That’s based on strategy – what we’re looking to get out of the game and also work that’s been done before we came back to the training ground.

“It wasn’t easy for lads to keep themselves in the shape that they needed to keep themselves in to be fit for purpose for us to come in and take over the training, then start preparing them specifically for Wycombe.

“They deserve enormous credit for their level of professionalism, their personalities and their cultural values that we believe pay you back over a course of a season and over your years at a football club.

“They are tested at times. You have to be able to trust your players. You have to be able to trust your staff to know that they’re getting everything they need.

“I have no faults – no-one has cut a corner, nobody has not done their required work. There are some that have done it to one level and a couple that have done it at a level that is just enough to get a pass.

“But every single one of them has come back ahead of where they were last pre-season. I don’t just take that for granted.”

And Barton hailed his squad’s attitude during lockdown, adding: “It would be easy as a player to let your head spin and lose concentration and focus.

“It’s hard keeping yourself training for 12, 13 weeks when there’s no guarantee at the end of it.

“You’ve got to be incredibly motivated and incredibly diligent, and a huge professional.

“If you haven’t been, and you’ve eaten too many cream cakes or not eaten the right foods, or you’ve not put in the gym sessions you maybe should have, then when you get back to business those moments of weakness will be exploited. We’re supremely confident because our preparation has been superb."

Tomorrow’s first leg at Highbury kicks off at 7.30pm and will be preceded by the opening encounter of the other League One semi-final between Portsmouth and Oxford United (5.30pm). Both matches will be broadcast live on Sky Sports.