PHIL Parkinson has vowed to keep City’s opponents guessing by switching his resources through the hectic first month.

Alan Sheehan misses tomorrow’s trip to Walsall after returning to Ireland following a family bereavement.

But new dad Gary Liddle is back after the birth of his baby daughter. City’s latest loan signing Mason Bennett will also be involved in the squad.

With three successive midweek games to follow, Parkinson insists he will make changes to cope with the busy early workload.

He said: “We’ve got to be pleased with the first two games but we’ve got a run coming up now where we want every member of the squad to be right up to speed.

“Like we’ve always done, we’re going to utilise the squad we’ve got. Filipe Morais and Ben Williams came in the other night at Morecambe and everybody’s going to get opportunities to play.

“It’s unrealistic in this run of games to expect the same XI to play. It’s not going to happen.”

With Sheehan absent, James Meredith will keep the left-back slot and City are hopeful that Christopher Routis will be cleared in time to allow the Swiss defender to boost the bench.

Derby striker Bennett trained for the first time yesterday but Parkinson is still aware of maintaining strength in depth within the ranks.

The City chief added: “We’ve got four players on non-contract so it’s difficult.

“We’re going to look to loan out Niall Heaton once Alan Sheehan’s back with us because I don’t feel he’s ready for first-team football as yet.

“Lewis Clarkson is obviously injured but when he’s back he’ll probably go out on loan and Olly McBurnie we’re still treating with kid gloves. If you take all them out the equation, the squad looks very different.

“Obviously the bench was a decent one the other night and won us the game. Hopefully that will happen time and time again – we’ve got to make sure we have the strength on there to be able to change the course of any football match.”

Parkinson has challenged his team to head into the much-anticipated televised Capital One Cup clash against Leeds with some momentum behind them.

It was confirmed yesterday the match will be shown live on Sky Sports on Wednesday, August 27 (7.45pm).

The City boss said: “It’s great to have that excitement so early in the season and when the Leeds game comes we’ll be ready for it.

“It’s something to look forward to but we’ve got to put that on the backburner. It would be great to go into that game in a strong league position.”