Burton Albion Head Coach Gary Bowyer has outlined his expectations for this weekend's Carabao Cup first round tie against Blackburn Rovers at the Pirelli. Speaking to local media after the club's 1-0 victory against Derby last Saturday, Bowyer reflected on facing his former employers and discussed the squad's current recruitment position.

Bowyer's Blackburn roots

Bowyer spent eleven and a half years at Blackburn Rovers before becoming a manager. He described the upcoming match as one he is "really looking forward to" and credited the club with giving him the opportunity to move into management.

The Burton Albion Head Coach praised current Blackburn manager Tony Mowbray. "I'm delighted to see him still involved in football," Bowyer said. "He's a fantastic role model for us because of his passion and his love for the game. Even with the way he talks about football, he loves for his players to get on the ball, express themselves and play, so that's exactly what we'll be expecting on Saturday."

Squad challenges and recruitment

Bowyer confirmed that Burton Albion go into the match with three substitutes who have regularly trained with the first team. He acknowledged the club's need for reinforcements but insisted on quality over quantity. "If they're not fully committed to what we're trying to do, then I'm not going to entertain it," he said.

The Head Coach attributed Burton Albion's quieter transfer window activity to wider market conditions. "We're probably one of the clubs that has done the fewest pieces of business, but it's the same for everyone up and down the country," Bowyer explained. "The lateness of the World Cup has had an effect on the influx of players." He called for the transfer window to close before the season starts, arguing the current arrangement is unfair to players, coaching staff and supporters.

Injury update

Charlie Webster is expected to return to the squad next week. Gbemi Arubi faces a longer absence of around two months and will use the time for conditioning work. Kain Adom has returned following his previous injury.