Nigel Clough wants options across the pitch for Burton Albion - and he knows how important that could be in the early stages of the Championship season.
Albion have made six new signings ahead of another campaign in English football's second tier, with Clough strengthening in most areas so far.
Defenders Stephen Warnock and Jake Buxton arrived on one-year deals after leaving Wigan Athletic, Matty Lund, Luke Murphy (loan) and Hope Akpan came in to bolster the central midfield ranks, while Ross County striker Liam Boyce arrived at the Pirelli Stadium on a club-record deal.
Clough is also pursuing moves for a new goalkeeper, while he revealed on Friday that Burton were close to bringing in a new full-back - and he also wants another forward to come in before the end of August.
It is no surprise that the Brewers boss is looking to strengthen his squad to such a degree.
He points to the opening fortnight of the campaign alone, when Albion face Cardiff City (home), Oldham Athletic (away) – in the Carabao Cup – Middlesbrough (away), Hull City (away) and Birmingham City (home) in the space of 13 days as an example of just how unforgiving the Championship can be.
Transfer talk
And bringing in the experienced Akpan - the latest of the Brewers' six summer signings - will play its part in preparing Burton for that intense start, with Clough possessing plenty of midfield options at his disposal now.
On ex-Reading and Blackburn Rovers man Akpan, Clough said: "He's got good experience at different levels throughout English football.
"We have always liked him over the years. He had a bit of a rough time at Blackburn last year and probably didn't play as many as he'd have wanted to.
"His decision was based on him getting back on track this season and playing some Championship games, which he'll get the opportunity to do with us.
"We are trying to get the situation where we have options all over the pitch. Not cover, but viable options.
"You look at the first two weeks of the season, where we go Saturday-Wednesday-Saturday-Tuesday-Friday - and there's some long trips.
"So we need those options, after the Boro game maybe, where if we've played three in midfield, to say just two or three days later, we need a fresh three in midfield.
"That's what we are trying to achieve."
So with half of their pre-season friendlies under the belt and less than two weeks to go before the Championship curtain-raiser at home to Cardiff, how is Clough feeling about the state of his squad?
"It is building," he added. "I think 18 outfield players is what we like to work with ideally, and then the young lads on top of that.
"You are always going to have one or two injured or suspended or whatever.
"If we have 18, we've got Turns (Ben Turner) missing for five games straightaway, so you are down to 17.
"But also, the likes of Joe Sbarra should be around the squad as well to improve, and some of the other young lads will go out on loan.
"That's the sort of number we are aiming at. And, of course, there might be one or two who might be going as well, we don't know yet."
