Exeter City Manager Caldwell Urges Forwards to Elevate Performance

Exeter City, managed by Gary Caldwell, has achieved nine clean sheets in 14 League One fixtures. Caldwell has stated that the club’s attacking players must elevate their performance to provide greater competition for Northern Ireland international Josh Magennis. The 34-year-old forward was absent from Saturday’s goalless draw against Lincoln City, having been on international duty where he contributed to his nation’s 2-0 victory over Belarus in the Uefa Nations League. This season, Magennis has netted four goals in 15 appearances for City and is considered a vital component of the Grecians squad, which currently sits three points shy of the League One play-off positions. Magennis was among three Exeter players called up for international commitments, alongside Finland’s Ilmari Niskanen and England Under-20 representative Kamari Doyle. Exeter City was required to proceed with the match despite these three player absences because Brighton and Hove Albion loanee Doyle’s call-up occurred too late to meet the deadline for requesting a fixture postponement. Regarding Magennis, Caldwell stated, “He’s been a phenomenal player for us and he’s our number nine, so when we miss him we’re going to struggle a little bit.” He further added, “But that should be an open door for Mili (Millenic Alli), Jay (Bird) or Sonny Cox – they need to push Josh more and say ‘we want your jersey’.” Caldwell emphasized the importance of internal competition, remarking, “That’s where the competition comes into the group where we have to drive each other.” He acknowledged the impact of key absences, noting, “But any team that misses a player, a top player, is going to struggle and that is the case.” Caldwell also highlighted another significant absence, stating, “Not just with Josh, we’re missing Immi as well and the energy Immi gives the team is phenomenal.” Concluding his remarks, he affirmed, “The squad that we have we believe in it, but these are big players that are hard to replace.”