ALEX Neil said Macaulay Langstaff merited his start against Ipswich Town last Friday.
Neil opted to switch to a two up front for the Boxing Day fixture at The Den, handing Langstaff his second league start of the season.
He partnered Mihailo Ivanovic, who has typically played as a lone striker since Josh Coburn picked up a quad injury in October.
The game finished 0-0, with Camiel Neghli having a late goal ruled out for offside.
Neil explained why he started two strikers against the Tractor Boys.
“There are a couple of things,” Neil said. “Even taking the lads off when we took them off as well.
“We’ve got four games coming up, and we’re going to have to try and freshen up the squad each time. I don’t think any of the games coming up will have the same team starting any of them. I don’t think that’s possible. We’ve only got a two-game window between each match. We’re really stretched as it is.
“Macca’s done well. He came on, did really well against Southampton. There was another game he came on, he did really well as well. He’s been training well the last couple of weeks. He certainly merited a start, and I thought he was very good in the game. So I was really pleased for him.”
The match also marked Ryan Leonard’s second appearance since returning from a calf injury in early November, replacing Billy Mitchell in midfield.
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“Lenny can play right back, he can play centre-back, he can play left-back,” Neil said. “He can play in the middle of the pitch if you want him in too.
“We needed a ballplayer in Alfie [Doughty], even though he’s not a middle-of-the-park player. We needed somebody who can break the game up and win headers and win tackles and do the other side of the game. Lenny can do all of that.
“I thought the balance when I knew Billy was coming off would have been as good as we’ve got available, really.”
