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Cheltenham Town boss Michael Duff poised to ‘make changes’ for Papa John’s Trophy tie, as Robins players give back to the club

Cheltenham Town will welcome Norwich City Under-21s to the Jonny-Rocks Stadium to play their final Papa John’s Trophy Southern Section Group F fixture on Tuesday night.

Manager Michael Duff is poised to make some alterations to the team that beat South Shields 3-1 on Saturday to progress into the second round of the FA Cup.

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Duff said: “Everyone needs an opportunity with the amount of games that are coming thick and fast.

“It’s not taking the competition lightly, it’s just that, if you can give game time to some players, we will make a few changes.

Norwich City u21 are the top scorers in the Trophy’s Southern Section with eight goals scored in two Trophy games against Newport County and League One side, Plymouth Argyle.

Duff said: “I think we’ve shown that with our performances and our commitment to our performances.

“If we’re not on it, we’ll concede goals because if they’ve got one things, they’ve got a lot of goals but there will be chances for people to impress.”

A win against Norwich U21s – who top Cheltenham’s Papa John’s Trophy Group F – would bank an additional £8,000 for the League Two club, on top of the £16,972 earned from a First Round FA Cup win over South Shields on Saturday.

Tournament prize money will go some way in easing the club’s financial worries as the UK plunged into a second lockdown last week.

READ: FA Cup first round: Which non-league teams advanced to the second round?

Last time out, Cheltenham striker Alfie May scored two goals to help the Robins progress to the second round of the FA Cup.

May is looking to add to his three goal haul this season to further Cheltenham’s progression in the cup competitions, with prize money all the more important in the current climate.

“All my family have subscribed to iFollow,” May said.

“I make them pay even though we can get it for free because I want the money to go into the pocket of the club.

“So my family are paying to watch the games, we want to give back with little things like that and I think that’s what a lot of other players are doing as well.

“The club has been good to us so we want to go as far as possible and in the other competition, the Leasing Trophy, it still brings in money so it’s nice to do things like that for the club.”

Cheltenham will be drawn at home in the next round of the Papa John’s Trophy if they win on Tuesday night.

Cheltenham are already through to the second round of the Papa John’s Trophy ahead of the final group stage tie against Norwich, but the potential prize money is needed more than ever.

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