Mark Hughes feels fit-again Callum Guy and Archie Davies will reap the benefits from being thrown back into the mix for Carlisle United against Gillingham.
Both players went into the starting line-up after recent spells on the sidelines.
For midfielder Guy it was a first outing for more than two months after illness, while right-back Davies made his first appearance since October.
Head coach Hughes feels the duo are important players for the Blues and expects them to be better for their outings, which lasted just over an hour in the 0-0 draw.
“This game will bring them on,” Hughes told the News & Star.
“They haven't had a lot of football but given their qualities it was important to try and put some more game time into them.
“I think they'll benefit massively from the game.
“I knew before the game that at some point I'd have to change them both, but they kept going – their levels didn't drop markedly.
“I just felt that it was better to take them out before they dipped alarmingly which the likelihood was that it would.
Archie Davies' outing against Gillingham was his first since October 12 (Image: Ben Holmes)
“For their first game back I thought they did fine.”
Guy’s return adds midfield know-how to United’s struggling side while Davies’ return is timely given the recent hamstring injury suffered by Josh Williams.
Hughes will now assess both ahead of Thursday’s trip to Barrow as the Blues’ battle for League Two survival continues.
Guy and Davies came into the side having had an outing in an in-house game four days before the Gillingham draw.
“They’re good players,” added Hughes.
“They’ve got a connection with the club as well, emotionally, and that empathy we need in the group, that feeling for the club…that’s important for us in our situation.
“I thought they did fine.”
