Take the next step, Carl

YOU CAN DO IT . . . Carl Winchester has the ability “to be a very good player” says Athletic assistant manager Tommy Wright.

Winchester ‘needs to stamp his authority’

CARL Winchester has the talent to succeed — but needs more drive.

The midfielder earned an unexpected recall to Athletic’s starting line-up for Saturday’s Gillingham game, replacing James Dayton.

Winchester (20) may have done enough to keep his place for tonight’s home clash with MK Dons, though manager Lee Johnson said he was impressed by Terry Dunfield’s debut cameo from the 74th minute.

Assistant Tommy Wright, who saw Winchester close-up for the first time on Saturday, feels the full Northern Ireland international needs to be more demanding on the pitch.

“He has always looked like he can do it, but his personality needs to come out more,” said Wright.

“He needs to be more of a driven force and stamp his authority on games. I think if he does that he can be a very good player.”

Captain Korey Smith is likely to miss out again tonight with his knee injury, though might return at Tranmere on Saturday. Genseric Kusunga, who has a thigh problem, serves out his ban, leaving Connor Brown to play through the pain barrier at right-back.

“There are one or two knocks and bruises,” Wright added. “Korey is coming along well. We’ll have to wait and see.”

Athletic are hunting back-to-back wins in Sky Bet League One for only the second time this season and three points could take the team into the top half of the division.

“If you look at most of the divisions they’re like that,” said Wright, referring to a table in which only six points separate Gillingham, in the top half, from Bristol City in 21st.

“If you win two or three you shoot way up and if you lose you shoot down. I’m sure if we get three points, we’ll be in a good position.”