This option is ideal if you've just taken over a club or if you're worried you may be losing touch with the strengths of your squad. Select it from the 'Assistant Advice' menu on the squad screen to receive an overview of the playing talent at your disposal from your assistant manager.

This indispensable feature prompts your right-hand man to breakdown his view of how the team will fare in relation to the club expectations. He'll also make specific recommendations on where the team can be improved and provide a line-up he thinks makes the best use of the players in the squad, each with an appropriate star rating, irrespective of their current status.

In other words, this is the best possible team your assistant believes you could field. You may not always agree with this assessment of course...

Use the 'View Lineups'drop-down to flick between the assistant's first choice and youth teams. This option is particularly useful when players featuring in your assistant's suggested first XI aren't available and you're looking for a suitable deputy.

Of course, you must weigh up the ability and attributes of your assistant before you take his word as gospel - it could be that he's wide of the mark due to his own lack of knowledge or skills.

Other than its tactical use, this screen is also a useful way to judge how wisely you have bought in the transfer market. If your new players fit straight into your first-team line-up and boast the endorsement of more stars than your other players, you can look forward to them making a positive impact in matches.