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Maidstone United manager Hakan Hayrettin explains why he recalled Tom Hadler for Chesterfield game

06:35, 26 September 2022

updated: 06:37, 26 September 2022

Maidstone manager Hakan Hayrettin remains torn between his two goalkeepers.

Hayrettin handed Tom Hadler his first appearance of the season in Saturday’s 2-1 defeat by Chesterfield.

Maidstone United goalkeeper Tom Hadler Picture: Steve Terrell
Maidstone United goalkeeper Tom Hadler Picture: Steve Terrell

He came in for Yusuf Mersin, who had played the first nine games of the National League campaign.

The Stones boss described Mersin’s contribution as “absolutely fantastic” but decided the time was right to see if the inclusion of Hadler, last season’s first choice, would benefit the back four.

“There’s nothing between them,” said Hayrettin.

“I just thought maybe a fresh pair of hands might give the players a little bit more confidence, I don’t know.

“Yusuf Mersin has been absolutely fantastic, he’s kept us in most games, I just decided to go with Tom today.

“Yus has done nothing wrong, to be fair, but sometimes people play different when other people are in front of them or behind them and I thought I’d just take a chance and see what happens.

"Is that a confidence thing? Maybe.”

Asked how he felt the change worked out, Hayrettin added: “Well, we’ve still let in two goals, haven’t we?

“It’s worked as well as we expected it to work. We can't be conceding goals in the manner we conceded."

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