HASSELBAINK PRAISES HIS SQUAD'S VERSATILITY AND CHARACTER

Hasselbaink could do with more Damien's

It was the first time the back four has been changed in eight games when the Brewers faced Tranmere rovers in a 4-1 victory away at Prenton Park. Taft filled in at left back whilst McCrory pushed higher into the left midfield positon.

Hasselbaink hasn’t changed his squad an awful lot in recent times after his clear-out when he first joined the Brewers. He was full of praise for the versatility of Damien McCrory and the rest of the squad after they performed so well at Tranmere.

Injuries have come thick and fast I the New Year. Maletic, Maynard, Cuvelier, Antoine-Curier and Blyth have all picked up lengthy injuries since joining the Brewers and more recently Callum Reilly has returned to Birmingham follow a hamstring injury he picked up not even 20 minutes in to his first start in a yellow shirt.

“Versatility is vital, especially when you have injuries.”

“People who can play in different positions or people who want to play in different positions and people who want to do it for the team.”

McCrory has proved in the past that he can play in a variety of positions and he certainly relishes playing down the left, making up the midfield four.

“We have asked Damien to play a little bit higher against Tranmere.

“I think he did a magnificent job for us there.

“He did himself really proud.”

After he picked up a serious injury at the end of last season, he missed the start of the new season which left doubts in everybody’s minds whether he would come back the same player that he was.

Hasselbaink praised McCrory after playing for so long without having a real break.

“He is one who since he has been back from his injury six months ago, more or less he hasn’t really had a break.

“The three games a week wasn’t going to be a problem for him.

‘I love these boys’ has been a constant line in Hasselbaink’s pre and post-match interviews and again he is happy with the character not only Damien McCrory but the whole said. He could do with more Damien’s…so he says.

“This is the third time he has played three times in a week and to put down such a performance says enough about his ability but also his character so yes it was an important one for him but also for us.

"We need more like those Damien’s.”