The Finnish Football Association have announced (link in Finnish) that goalkeeper Will Jaaskelainen has been called up for their Under-21 squad for their upcoming games during the next international break for games against Ukraine (Fri 6th Sept 16:30 kick-off) and Northern Ireland (Tues 10th Sept 17:00 kick-off). He would miss the trip to Grimsby Town on the 7th and potentially the first game of the EFL Trophy against Burton Albion next Tuesday.
Jaaskelainen, 21, has started each of the last 9 league games for the Alex (including the back-end of last season) but has not played in either EFL Cup game against Middlesbrough and Aston Villa with Dave Richards being preferred in those games.
He joins Hugo Keto (Brighton & Hove Albion), Aapo Halme (Barnsley) and Marcus Forss (Brentford) that are also based in England in the squad.
What are the options for the Alex for that weekend?
From what I understand could be potentially 3 options for the Alex for that weekend – we would need 3 call-ups to be able to postpone the game:
- 3rd choice (and regular Under-18) goalkeeper Sam Booth will be involved – he’s the other keeper that warmed up with Will, Richards and Fred Barber on Tuesday night – for the first time at senior level.
- We could loan in a goalkeeper on a 7-day emergency loan (not sure whether this is an actual possibility or not) as some teams have done in the past when their first 2 choices have been injured or suspended for fixtures – see young West Brom keeper Alex Palmer joining Notts County ahead of the game at the end of last season at the Alexandra Stadium.
- We could take the risky option of having no goalkeeper on the bench and just have 7 outfield substitutes instead.
