Boss salutes Brown’s return to form

CONNOR Brown’s impact in the five-match unbeaten run Athletic take with them to Colchester on Good Friday has been hailed by his manager.

The right-back (21) has played in every one of those games, restored to the team after being dropped for the home defeat to Rotherham a month ago.

In his second season at Boundary Park, Brown has lately rediscovered the form that persuaded boss Lee Johnson to install him as first-choice at the start of the season.

A knee injury in the home win over Port Vale required surgery and ruled him out of action for more than two months. Now, in the continued absence of Genseric Kusunga, he has taken his chance to fix his place in a solid-looking back four.

“Connor has done very well,” said Johnson. “In the summer he got himself very fit and he was really flying for us at the beginning of the season. Then he picked up the injury, which really was a killer for him.

“It took him a while to get going again after that, but recently he has played a big part for us.”

Tranmere Rovers lost 2-0 at Crawley last night, a result which means they remain a point behind Athletic in the table having played one game more.

A 12-day break between fixtures for Athletic precedes a busy end to the campaign, featuring five games in 16 days.

With the potential for injuries in a hectic period, Johnson is pleased his squad is looking healthy.

After the game at Colchester on Good Friday, Athletic return to Boundary Park against Coventry on Easter Monday.