JORDAN Clark insists Accrington Stanley can marry a promotion push in League One with a run in the Checkatrade Trophy after the Reds booked their place in the knockout stages with a group game to spare.

Tuesday night's 2-1 win over West Brom's U21s means John Coleman's side are assured of a spot in the last 32 regardless of the result of their final match, away at Blackpool next week.

Victory against the Seasiders would complete a 100 per cent record and ensure top spot and Clark, who was on target with the opener against the Baggies youngsters, is determined to see the Reds progress as far as possible with the final played at Wembley.

Accrington have never appeared at the national stadium and Clark believes that opportunity is reason enough to take the Checkatrade Trophy seriously.

"It is important," he said. "Anyone will tell you want to play at Wembley in your career. I’ve been once to watch and Barnsley lost so it wasn’t the greatest experience, in 2008.

“Every player should be striving to play at Wembley."

Asked if the Reds can continue to challenge on two fronts, with the potential for a third if they overcome Colchester United in Saturday's FA Cup first round tie, Clark said: "Why not? We’ve got a big squad and a good squad, we’ve just got to take each game as it comes.

“We’ve got the FA Cup on Saturday, which will be a big game so we’ll look forward to that and then next Tuesday it’s Blackpool so the games are coming thick and fast.

"We’ve got three competitions inside a week so we’ll look forward to them."

Stanley made several changes for the midweek win over West Brom's U21s and left it late with Ross Sykes heading home a stoppage time winner.

Loanee forward Luke Charman made his debut while the likes of Matty Platt and Connor Hall were handed starts.

And Clark, one of the more senior names on the teamsheet, feels the Reds have enough strength in depth to cope with the alterations.

"We’ve got a good squad. Some of the lads who played on Tuesday were probably in the stand on Saturday because we’ve got that big a squad and that good a squad," he added.

“They’ve just got to come in and take their chance. Luckily the last two (Checkatrade) games we’ve played we’ve done really well so it gives the gaffer a lot to think about."

On the game itself, the winger added: "It was a scrappy game, we didn’t play the best.

"The gaffer was disappointed with that I think. But obviously we’re through and that’s the main thing.

“And I’ve got a little monkey off my back with scoring so I’m happy.

“I last scored against Charlton (in August) so a long time ago, and I missed a few good chances on Saturday (at Coventry) so I was delighted he (Coleman) played me because when you’re disappointed you just can’t wait for the next game. I was happy to get on the pitch.

“I think we probably deserved it over the 90 minutes. There wasn’t much in it to be fair.

“We had a lot of chances and it was end to end quite a lot.

“Fair play to them they’re a young side and we’ve got a lot of experience in our team. It was good to get the win."