Gardner confident as big-match debut looms

Reporter: Matthew Chambers
Date published: 17 August 2017


DAN Gardner accepts that Wigan are among the toughest opponents Athletic will face all season, but there is no sense of doom and gloom from the man who is in line to make his debut for the club against the current favourites to take the Sky Bet League One title.

Suspended for the first three games, it would be a major surprise if former Chesterfield star Gardner (27) does not step straight into a midfield that in manager John Sheridan's opinion been lacking for direction.

LAPSES
He has taken part in the pre-match warm-up routines of late and watching on from the stand, does not feel an awful lot is wrong with a side that last week took the lead against both Burton and Walsall before lapses resulted in defeat in both cases.

"Every game is massive, but the bigger clubs that have come down from the Championship will always be that little bit harder and big tests," said Gardner, who has 89 appearances to his name with the Spireites at League One level over three seasons.

"Hopefully, we can get the win.

"I think we have a very good team here with good players in all areas. I do think we can do something this season. We need to get into our stride, get a few wins on the board and see what happens."

Gardner was sent off in the final game of last term for aiming an arm at Sheffield United striker Billy Sharp.

It topped off a miserable season with Chesterfield, who ended up finishing bottom of the division, and the ensuing ban had a knock-on effect into 2017-18 after swapping clubs.

"I went back to my half after a goal and Billy Sharp was heading to his half with the ball in his arms. In going past he elbowed me in my stomach," he said.

"I reacted and pushed him. I don't know whether it was a red card or not - I would say probably a yellow - but obviously, it's frustrating watching your team-mates on a Saturday and Wednesday, wanting to be helping them but not being able to do anything about it.

"It is very early days at the moment for us.

"John Sheridan knows what he wants and he's a good manager and good guy around the place. I am looking forward to getting playing now."