Striker crisis at Athletic

Deane Smalley, injury worry

ATHLETIC are confronted by a striker crisis as they prepare for tomorrow’s home Coca-Cola League One game against Peterborough United.

Deane Smalley is the latest casualty after limping out of a training session with a thigh-muscle injury.

“It’s Sod’s Law, Murphy’s Law call it what you may that we have suffered another injury to a striker,” said manager Joe Royle.

“It couldn’t have happened at a worse time.”

The injury to Smalley, who looks unlikely to play, means Athletic will have lost three strikers in the space of a week following Lee Hughes’ loan move to Blackpool and injury to Steven Kabba.

It leaves Royle with a quandary as Lewis Alessandra and Matty Wolfenden, who has only just resumed full training after a lengthy injury lay-off, are the only two strikers available.

In view of Wolfenden’s absence, it would be an enormous gamble to pitch him straight back into the first team.

Switching Chris Taylor inside to partner Alessandra might be a more likely option as he has scored 10 goals from wide left and right. Midfielder Mark Allott, who began his career as a striker, could also be pushed up front.

Royle is awaiting a fitness check on defender and captain Sean Gregan.

The 35-year-old has been unable to train since jarring his ankle after falling awkwardly in training.

Royle has a number of defensive options open to him in the event of Gregan being sidelined.

He could give 19-year-old Paul Black, who can play either at left back or centre of defence, a game.

Black made two substitute appearances last season after being on the bench for 22 first-team matches.

The teenager’s loan spell at Blue Square Premier club Barrow was cut short after he badly damaged ankle ligaments. The injury prevented him from featuring in their FA Cup, third-round tie at Premier League outfit Middlesbrough.

Peterborough ’keeper Joe Lewis has recovered from the dead leg sustained against Leicester City last Saturday and will keep his place in an unchanged team.

Lewis was forced to withdraw from the England under-21 squad for the midweek international against France.

ATHLETIC (from): Supple, Fleming, Hazell, Eardley, Lomax, Hazell, Gregan, Stam, Black, Jones, Liddell, Allott, Whitaker, Maher, Lee, Taylor, Alessandra, Smalley, Wolfenden, Ferreira.