GRAHAM Alexander still has the Scunthorpe team photo from his first season in senior football.

It stands out among the keepsakes of a playing career that spanned over two decades – because of the number posing on it.

“I think there are about 14 players,” recalled the City boss. “That was the squad.

“Fortunately enough, it got me games as a young kid but that was it.

“There was only one or two subs so you didn’t need to carry too many. But you needed to be robust and resilient as players.

“Now there are seven subs on a matchday or nine in the cup games so you are going to have to carry similar numbers to cover that.”

Tonight offers the first chance for Alexander to shuffle the pack with the opening group game in the Bristol Street Motors Trophy.

Last season’s semi-finalists start all over again with a Valley Parade visit from Newcastle under-21s. Hardly a fixture to set the pulse racing but still a big chance for those who get the shirts.

Alexander will get a first look at most recent arrivals Joe Adams, Cheick Diabate and Jay Benn. Others such as Tyler Smith, Jamie Walker and Clarke Oduor also have a decent chance to give the gaffer a nudge.

On the back of Saturday’s disappointment at Grimsby, the opportunity may be ripe for some.

Alexander has kept stressing the point that everyone in the squad now will have a part to play. All must be ready to be called upon week in, week out.

Pre-season fitness levels were an encouraging sign for the manager but those must be maintained across the board.

He added: “I think the players have become different athletes to what we were back then.

“I’ve made the analogy before of a sports car and a diesel. I was certainly a diesel.

“I had one gear that could go on forever but the change of speed was very poor. I wasn’t that dynamic, but I was very robust and resilient and I think a lot of players were back then.

“They are quicker now, they are more dynamic in their movements. But with that becomes a little bit more risk of injury.

“You need to carry more players to overcome those injuries and make sure the level of performance is always high.

“I had a chat with the players about playing 50 games a season. This is how you have to work.

“Every player should have that target. I don’t get those who pat themselves on the back for playing 30 games – what do you do for the rest of the season?

“There are 50 games generally and a lot of work has to go into that.

“It’s a lifestyle that enables you to be available for those amount of games. It’s not just two hours a day at training.”

Rotherham beat Mansfield 2-0 in the only match played in northern group H so far. City travel to face the Stags in a fortnight.

The City boss insists he won’t be ringing the changes against Newcastle’s youngsters just for the sake of it.

“It gives us the opportunity for other players to come in and show what they can do.

“It’s always going to be an open field. I’ve always said that I haven’t got a surefire 11 written down at the start of the week.

“We have to make sure that the performance levels are better than they were on Saturday. But everyone will have the opportunity to show that.”