LES PARRY must make a difficult decision that is sure to leave one of Tranmere’s ambitious young defenders seriously disappointed at Brentford tomorrow.

The Rovers manager has the option of returning Shaleum Logan to the right-back berth for the League One encounter at Griffin Park after the 21-year-old completed a two-match suspension.

But Luke O’Neill, the 18-year-old recruited on a month’s loan from Leicester City to cover Logan’s absence, performed impressively in the 2-1 win over Leyton Orient and the 2-0 defeat to Huddersfield over the last week.

Logan can make a case for being one of Tranmere’s most consistent performers this term, playing more than 30 senior games since starting a season-long loan from Manchester City.

Parry said: “Shaleum has a very difficult job getting back. Shaleum will feel aggrieved if he is not in the side because he was one of our better players up until he got banned.

“But he got the 10 bookings, got himself suspended and put us in a situation where we had to bring in someone to cover his position. That person has come in and played two very good games. So if we end up going with Luke on Saturday, Shaleum has only himself to blame.”

The pattern of Parry’s selection decisions over the past four-and-a-half months suggest a reluctance to pull players out of the side when they perform well. So Logan may be asked to bide his time.

Parry must also make at least one change from the line-up that started against Huddersfield because midfielder Gareth Edds is ruled out through concussion.

Charlie Barnett came off the bench to play in the second half of the game against the Terriers. The more experienced Alan Mahon is keen to get back into the starting 11 for the first time since early November.

Edds suffered his knock in trying to keep Huddersfield’s first goal, a header by Lee Novak, out of the Tranmere net on Tuesday. He spent the night in hospital.

Parry said: “Gareth has a five-day ban preventing him playing. We can’t take a chance with him.”

Marvin Sordell is due to play the last game of his month on loan from Watford tomorrow and Tranmere must make a decision on whether they want to extend the arrangement into a second month.

Parry admits that decision may be influenced by how quickly Bas Savage can show he is fit and available for first-team duty.

Savage, nearing the end of a 10-month comeback trail from an Achilles tendon injury, will not be involved at Brentford. But if he comes through a reserve game against Preston next Wednesday, he could be in the frame for the home game against Southampton on Saturday, March 6.

Parry said: “Bas has been putting is around that he is available and I’m not picking him. But he had to go to hospital for an injury to his ankle this week, saying he wasn’t able to strike the ball properly. I’ll be talking to Bas and saying he has to show me he is right and able to play his part.

“That impacts on Marvin. We don’t want to be losing him if Bas is going to be struggling with his fitness.”

Tranmere can expect a cat and mouse game at Griffin Park, were Brentford’s cautious approach is reflected in a record of eight draws on home soil, six wins and just two defeats.

The heavy pitch, which is also used by Chelsea’s reserve and youth teams, is likely to be a factor in the game.

Tranmere, a couple of places above the relegation zone, aim to extend a sequence that shows they have not lost back-to-back games since the end of October.