Plenty to play for

Reporter: MATTHEW CHAMBERS
Date online: 03 February 2012

Latics want to tie stars to new deals
ATHLETIC must improve in order to have the best chance of retaining the bulk of the squad for next season, manager Paul Dickov has warned.

Success on the field will bring with it the desire to stick around at Boundary Park.

And with so many of the current squad out of contract in the summer, Dickov wants to attack the remainder of the npower League One season with gusto.

“All our efforts in the last 20 games go towards making players want to stay on, so that we can look to progress again next year,” said Dickov, who confirmed two months ago he has held preliminary talks with Kieran Lee and Chris Taylor about remaining at the club.

“It will be stepping up now (contract talks) and we want to keep our better players. We want to get as many tied down as we can, as quickly as we can.

“It will be dictated by what they are wanting us to offer them, as well.”

With tomorrow’s home game against Leyton Orient postponed, the club look set for six games in the calendar month, starting at Stevenage on Tuesday (7.45pm kick-off).

Athletic’s manager is determined that the current poor form of only two wins in 12 league games is turned around to a satisfying conclusion.

“Last summer, progression was what we aimed for,” he added. “We wanted a couple of cup runs, which we have had.

“And we all want success in cup finals, but if we can finish higher in the table, it gives us something to build on.”

On the injuries front, Dickov said that captain Dean Furman (knee) is close to fitness. After missing three games, he could play at Stevenage, but centre-back Zander Diamond has twisted a muscle near his hip and looks set to be out for between two and three weeks.

That means young centre-back James Tarkowski is likely to have an opportunity to shine.

“Tarky has done really well,” added Dickov.

“The biggest thing is, because of his size and age we have to look after him. People think because you are young, your recovery time is better. But he is big boned and takes that bit longer to recover.

“He reminds me of Richard Dunne at Manchester City. He is of a similar size and build and is a similar player as well.”

As for injury-troubled striker Reuben Reid, absent for three months with a thigh muscle problem which showed itself again in training, it is hoped he will be able to join in from next week.

“It is frustrating, but not a major setback,” said Dickov.

“It was one of those where with it tightening up, if it had been the other thigh he would probably have continued to train.

“But because Reuben has already had one setback, he didn’t want to push it.”