Mamadou Thiam is getting closer to his first Reds start, says his head coach Paul Heckingbottom.
The French striker, who signed in the summer, has come off the bench four times but not in the last three games, as one of Tom Bradshaw or Ike Ugbo has been used as the lone striker. Heckingbottom said: "Mama will be getting his opportunities sooner rather than later. He's been a bit unlucky not to start but we need to improve his fitness and understanding of the role.
"As a person, he is first class and he understands he needs to be patient. I could throw him in now but I would be hanging him out to dry. We have only got three strikers so I probably will be using him before I think he's ready out of necessity."
Heckingbottom changed to a 4-4-2 at half-time on Tuesday, after using a 4-1-4-1 for most of the season. He said: "Playing two up front is what I have always enjoyed and I enjoyed playing in teams like that. But people get carried away with it. We have actually had more bodies in the box on a regular basis this season than last season.But there is an instinct with strikers that other players don't have. We just have to defend in a different way if we use 4-4-2."
The Reds are not close in their search for free agent strikers while they are in negotiations with teenager Victor Adeboyejo to join their under 23s.
