Wycombe Wanderers manager Gareth Ainsworth has named himself in the matchday squad for Tuesday night’s Checkatrade Trophy tie with Swindon Town.
The decision was made due to the Chairboy’s extensive list of injuries, with eight senior players currently ruled out through various knocks and knacks.
Ainsworth, who is in decent nick for a 44-year-old, last picked himself for active duty some 14 months ago, when he came off the bench to set up a goal in a 3-0 win over Northampton in the same competition.
Gareth’s on the bench tonight.
Last time that happened, he came on & set up a goal in a 3-0 win in the @CheckatradeTrpy last August. pic.twitter.com/9ZCWRN1Byu
— Wycombe Wanderers (@wwfcofficial) October 31, 2017
Not bad for a bloke who is supposed to have retired at the end of the 2012/13 season.
Discussing his big call with Wycombe’s official club website, Ainsworth said:
Other than the start of last season, I can’t remember a time during my managerial career when we’ve had such a long injury list.
We’ve had a busy October […] and we need to make sure we don’t overwork the boys, so there may be a few changes tonight. If it means that I need to pull the boots on again then so be it.
I keep myself fit and I join in with training from time to time, so I’ll be ready if required, but we’re going to Swindon looking for the win and I’m confident the team I pick will be more than capable of doing just that.
Hero.