Walle Egeli: We're All Versatile Players
Wednesday, 26th Aug 2026 09:46 by Kallum Brisset
Sindre Walle Egeli lauded Town’s attacking versatility after his strike helped the Blues into the third round of the Carabao Cup with a 3-1 victory over Leicester City at Portman Road.
It was the Norwegian’s goal that got the scoring started to give Town the lead shortly after the hour mark, on an evening where Gary O’Neil made nine changes to the starting XI.
Despite being pegged back soon afterwards, Marcelino Núñez scored twice to ensure O’Neil made it two wins from two at the start of his reign as Blues manager.
Perhaps the biggest surprise on the night was the starting structure of the attacking trio behind Chuba Akpom, which saw Kasey McAteer play on the left and Jack Clarke in a central role.
“Of course, it always takes time sometimes to get into a match,” Walle Egeli said: “We’re all versatile players. In the second half, we switched it around again. It worked good in both halves, but maybe a little bit better in the second.
“It was a natural thing. In training, sometimes I’ve been on the right and sometimes in the 10. All three were prepared for anything. It’s good to see that we can also switch during the game. It’s a big advantage that we have.
“We can play both positions. I can play on the right and in the 10, Clarkey can play left and 10, and Kasey can play on both flanks. It’s good with the versatility.”
The trio came into the line-up having all featured off the bench against Sunderland on Saturday, replacing Abdul Fatawu, Julio Enciso and Daizen Maeda.
Walle Egeli said: “We have a lot of players now, so we need to keep everyone on their toes and everyone ready. I think a lot of the guys performed very well to try and push the other guys. All in all, a very positive performance.
“When you get opportunities, you need to take them. When you get to play, you need to show what you can do. A lot of players did that, so we can be satisfied.
“We have a lot of players, a lot of very good players, so it’s very good for the team that we go on a cup run. A very important win, and then we have another match in two weeks.
“It’s very important to win this game. We took it very seriously, that was very clear from the beginning, so it’s a massive win.
“It’s the perfect start, honestly it’s been great. All the lads are very happy and he’s been great with all of the lads. To make everyone happy and work for the team, like \[the manager\] says, it’s not only the 11 who start in the Premier League, it’s the whole group that needs to contribute every day in training and also from the bench.
“It’s been great in that way, all the players are in great mood so we just keep going.”
Reflecting further on the game against Leicester, Walle Egeli said: “Tough one. They played a lot of short passes and we had to run a lot, but we got the win and we deserved it. A very good performance.
“You can call them League One, but I think they’re a little bit of a higher level than that. They played a good game and we played a good game. It was a tough match, but we got there in the end.”
Walle Egeli’s strike to break the deadlock was his fifth goal for the club and marked his first Town goal since the equaliser against the Foxes in the league meeting at Portman Road in March.
Akpom’s strength and pass created the opportunity, and Clarke was on hand to find the right ball into the centre to allow the 20-year-old to finish beyond Jakub Stolarczyk.
“I almost had too much time to think, but in the end, a nice finish,” he said. “Chuba did well, he’s been so good in the last two months and it’s been really fun to see. Clarkey has also been top. It’s easy when you play with these top players.”
Núñez was the man of the moment, though. The Chilean midfielder restored the Blues’ advantage on 71 minutes before rounding off the night with a strike from inside the centre circle that lobbed stranded keeper Stolarczyk.
Walle Egeli quipped: “It’s crazy. I told him if he doesn’t score there, I would kill him because I was open through on goal! This guy is crazy. Such a lovely finish and a top player. He has one of the best foots I have ever seen in football.”
The former FC Nordsjælland man claimed he wants a ‘big’ team at home in the third round draw, perhaps Liverpool, but faces a trip to Manchester United for Town’s next league game on Sunday.
He said: “It will be a great game and we have a lot of momentum now. It’s been a great start under the gaffer, we have so much momentum and we go into Old Trafford to get three points.”
_Photo: TWTD_