BURTON Albion manager Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink will have Tom Hamer and Tom O'Connor available for tomorrow's game away at Fleetwood Town in the first round of this season's Emirates FA Cup.
Hasselbaink confirmed in his weekly press conference that winger Jonny Smith will be unavailable due to suspension following his red card at Wigan Athletic last week, but Hamer is available for selection due to his suspension for accumulating five yellow cards only applying to EFL competitions.
“Jonny Smith is suspended for tomorrow as it was a straight red card," said Hasselbaink.
“Tom Hamer is not suspended because it was a fifth yellow card for the season - the yellow card type of suspension only applies to EFL competition so he will be available.”
In addition to the loss of Jonny Smith for tomorrow’s FA Cup tie, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink confirmed that Lucas Akins is still being examined ahead of the game.
“Lucas is 50/50 going into tomorrow with his neck," added Hasselbaink.
"He had that injury against Oxford and then played against Wigan but he was not the same for that game, he was in pain.
“This week he has also been a little bit ill and is still in pain, so we are going to have a look at what we can do.
“I think he is the only one, Tom O’Connor is back tomorrow and will be available.”
Tomorrow’s FA Cup clash is the second time in three weeks that the two sides have met. Despite this, Hasselbaink says this will be a different game, despite the sides knowing each other a little bit better.
“I think both teams will know each other a little better, I think the majority of the same players will be on the pitch again while also having a few injured players back.
“This is a different match tough, a different game. Although the two opponents are the same it is a different day, the weather forecast is different and we have to play to the occasion.”