GRAHAM Alexander wants to put the bounce in his squad by arranging more practice games.

The City boss was impressed by the response from those currently not starting when they staged a behind-closed-doors match last week.

With no official reserve fixtures, the club plan to sort out more like that to keep the players on the fringes of the first 11 up to speed for when they are needed.

Jamie Walker came on as a late sub against Bromley having not been involved in the home opener against Salford.

He was one of those to benefit from playing the full game in last Tuesday’s training-ground encounter.

“Jamie played up front with Olly (Sanderson) in the bounce game last Tuesday and played really well,” said Alexander.

“Clarke Oduor, Bobby (Pointon), Lewis Richards, Jake Shepherd – they all did very well. That was great to see.

“They all got 90 minutes and are up to speed. The ones who’ve been starting in league games were slightly ahead in match minutes so that’s why we got the game.

“We’re going to try and get another one really soon.”

Alexander made five changes for City’s trip to Saturday’s opponents Grimsby in the Carabao Cup. But he has named the same starting 11 for the first three League Two games.

City begin their Bristol Streets Motors Trophy campaign next Tuesday when they host Newcastle under-21s. 

That will be an opportunity for Alexander to shuffle the pack – which is likely to have been tweaked again by the end of the transfer window on Friday night.

“We’ve obviously got the EFL Trophy game next week. We like to change the team around there.

“We want all the boys available for us. We know we’ve got good quality.

“We just don’t want anyone who’s not got regular game time to start going off where they were at the end of pre-season because they all worked exceptionally hard and were in really good shape.

“But you need match minutes to keep that going. So that’s what we’re doing.

“I could put any of those guys on to get us a goal. I’ve got Lewis Richards and Jack Shepherd on the bench as well to bring on and add defensive strength.

“The squad is in a good place but we need one or two just to make sure we’re operating on the right scale.”