We get back to the debate about the validity of having a Development Squad.
Missing today through injury (or something else??) were Harvey Bardsley, Donovan Lescott, Zak Emmerson, Alex Lankshear and Will Squires. Out on loan are Kawku Donkor, Brad Holmes, Owen Mofatt and Rob Apter. And there's Jack Moore to add to the list.
If all those players were available we could put a decent team out.
It appears that currently we prefer the loan option for developing our players. If we eventually become a Cat 2 Academy we will obviously play academies of a better standard which MAY lessen the need to send our young pro's out on loan and of course ensure they get more coaching in-house. I don't pretend to know if that would be a preferable option.
All I can say is that PL academy teams that participate in the EFL Trophy don't seem particularly effective.
I'm not knowledgeable enough to compare our use of the loan market with similar Clubs and those of a level above.
We have a new Academy Head of Recruitment who is quite noisy on Twitter and is worth following if you have the slightest interest.