Kevin Nolan: 'Notts County players can sulk, so long as they are ready to play'

Kevin Nolan has acknowledged that some Notts County players may not be happy at missing out on the starting XI, but the important thing is their readiness to step in at a moment's notice.

With a spate of signings being made in the close season, there is a lot of competition for places at Meadow Lane, with even the likes of Jorge Grant not having made the starting line-up in some games so far.

However, Nolan stresses that each player will get game time this season, and to channel any omission from the matchday XI - or indeed matchday squad - positively.

“There is a bit of anxiety there because the lads who were here last season, didn’t have that competition for places,” he told the Nottingham Post.

“But I spoke to them about it and told them it’s healthy. Everybody in the squad is going to be needed at some point, so it’s not about going and kicking your mate in training because he plays in your position.

“It’s making sure you are ready when your mate doesn’t get the nod. You can sulk, but as long as you are prepared to play.

“The lads are all responding to that and I think the majority of the squad has had 90 minutes so far.

“We’ve never had this kind of competition for places at the club. There has always been plenty of players but there’s never been a vision about how we want to go about creating it.

“But the lads who are still here from last year have bought into it and so are the new players. Together as a squad we will be successful.”

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