Ray Harford won't shirk from making big decisions on team selection - even though he knows it could cause him problems as he aims for the twin targets of FA Cup success and a UEFA Cup place.

"No-one's going to be happy if they are not in the team. The important thing is how they handle it," said the manager.

"It's a problem that Kevin Keegan and others have got.

"To be a big club you have to have as many players as you can, but it is very difficult to keep them all happy.

"You only hope that if you win that lessens the argument that they should be in the team instead of the other fella."

"Basically, it's down to good performances and winning.

"There are a lot of decisions to make and, hopefully, you make the right ones."

Harford believes the club are moving in the right direction and, with his long-term casualties fit again, would have ample strength in depth in the squad.

"At least our season isn't finished," he said. "We were hoping we would be in a half-decent position and then, with players fit again, we could punch on.

"We are still in the Cup and we have the chance of aiming for a place in Europe."

Except for his three long-term absentees, Jason Wilcox, Graeme Le Saux and Ian Pearce, Harford's only other major injury concern at the moment is Chris Sutton.

He damaged an ankle at Coventry over a month ago and, apart from the fact that he isn't yet back in full training, he is bound to be badly short of match fitness.

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