Wales calling for Eardley

INTERNATIONAL DUTY: Athletic full-back Neal Eardley is set to sit out a clutch of games because of Wales commitments.

ATHLETIC full-back Neal Eardley is likely to be ruled out of three early-season games.

The 20-year-old’s international commitments with Wales will mean he is set to be unavailable for Athletic.

It is the price boss Dave Penney will have to pay as Eardley, one of the club’s jewels, makes his mark on the international stage, having won 10 full caps for Wales already.

Eardley, who played the full 90 minutes for the senior side in their last game, a 1-0 win in Azerbaijan, is expected to miss the Carling Cup first-round clash at Carlisle United.

That is 24 hours before Wales have a friendly in Montenegro. On the same night there is a UEFA under-21s Championships qualifier against Hungary and Eardley is certain to be required for either of those games.

He could also miss the Coca-Cola League One fixture at home to Hartlepool on September 5 and at Charlton on Saturday, October 10 because of international fixtures.

The under-21s have a vital UEFA Championships qualifier against Italy on September 4, while on October 10 the senior side has a World Cup game in Finland, the same day the under-21s play Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Athletic have seven days to make changes to the league fixtures which were released yesterday.

Chief executive Alan Hardy said they will consider moving some games if they clash with England’s World Cup qualifiers, which are televised live.

Mr Hardy explained: “The kick off times for England games have yet to be confirmed so we will have to see what they are.

“We have fans who watch England and we will look at moving our games if they clash with international fixtures.”

Athletic are still waiting to place further pieces into the transfer jigsaw for the new campaign.

Manager Dave Penney, who so far has captured only Rob Purdie and Jon Worthington, has agreed moves for four players and it is a case of waiting for his targets to return from holiday before finalising the deals.