Hatters skipper would welcome more substitutes and bigger squads during Championship run-in

Town captain Sonny Bradley would welcome the Championship following the Premier League’s lead of introducing bigger match-day squads and more substitutions for the climax of the 2019-20 campaign.

With the season suspended indefinitely since early March due to the coronavirus pandemic, Town, who have nine games left to play, were given a provisional date to return of June 20 on Sunday, with the league hoping to conclude the fixtures by late July.

Yesterday, the top flight announced that match-day squads would increase to nine, with clubs allowed to use five players from the bench, a decision that Bradley agreed with.

He said: "Yes, of course, with such a congested fixture list, I think it’s only right that more substitutes are made available.

"We heard a rumour that it could be nine subs and you'll be able use five of them, whether that's right or not, that's the rumour.

"If that is right, then of course we would welcome that, if the fixtures are what we think they’re going to be and they're in a six week period, there's obviously going to be more strain on the boys, mentally and physically.

"If we have the choice to have more substitutes and use more of them, then like all Championship clubs, I do believe that we would welcome that."

A statement on the Premier League website said: "Premier League Shareholders today agreed temporary changes to the rules relating to substitute players.

"For the remainder of the 2019/20 season, the number of substitutes that can be used during a match will increase from three to five players.

"This is in line with the temporary law amendment made by the International Football Association Board last month.

"Shareholders also approved for Clubs to increase the maximum number of substitute players on the bench from seven to nine for the rest of the 2019/20 season."