Phil Parkinson to ring the Sunderland changes as he manages squad for MK Dons clash

The Black Cats have already qualified for the next round of the competition, which will see Parkinson ring the changes for Tuesday night’s game.

Aside from a small group of senior players, the matchday squad will be made up almost entirely of young players.

Parkinson is eager to manage his squad through the week, with Tom Flanagan and Conor McLaughlin away on international duty and unavailable on Saturday.

Denver Hume, Luke O’Nien and Lynden Gooch are all also doubts at this stage, though Parkinson is hoping they will be fit to feature at the Stadium of Light.

“Fleetwood and ourselves are both in the same position, we have both qualified and this game will just decide who finishes top of the group and therefore who will be drawn at home in the next round,” Parkinson said.

“We got the job done in the first two games, and that means that we are able to use this game to take a look at some of the lads from the academy and I'm looking forward to that.

“I went to see MK Dons play against Eastleigh in the FA Cup on Sunday to get a look at them.

“The important thing is that we get the build-up right for the game on Saturday, and get the strongest team out that we can bearing in mind the injuries we have and the fact that we have a couple of players away on international duty.

“But after that game, we've got a full week's training with no midweek game and that will give us chance to regroup before we go to Doncaster.”

Josh Hawkes, signed from Hartlepool United in the summer, is one of the academy players who could be given a chance to impress at Highbury Stadium.

Parkinson had confirmed last week that those who have been impressing in the U23 side would come into consideration.

Elliott Dickman’s side have made a solid start to the campaign, sitting fourth in the Premier League 2 Division 2 table.

They have won four league games already, having failed to win during the whole of the last campaign.

Jack Diamond, Dan Neil, Elliot Embleton and Oliver Younger are amongst the other players set to be given a chance.

“Realistically, that Tuesday game, our thoughts at the moment are that because we've already qualified, and because a lot of the lads have done well in the U23s, we need to see if they can make that next step up,” Parkinson said.

“There's players we want to give that opportunity to against Fleetwood because I don't think there's a better time to do it.

“We've said all along that the idea of the U23s this year was to strengthen that team, but have players who felt could step in for us when required.

“Josh Hawkes is one of those.

“He's played at National League level, done well, got goals.”