Basel brush-off

Genseric Kusunga: Latics in the dark over his medical problems

ATHLETIC have been left in the dark over a solution to Genseric Kusunga’s injury woes, with his former club FC Basel holding on to the defender’s medical records despite EIGHT requests for them to be provided.

The 26-year-old has had a 12-month contract option taken up by Athletic, in a move manager Lee Johnson accepts is risky.

Powerful and technically adept, centre-back Kusunga has been restricted to 25 appearances since September, missing five games through suspension and more through injury.

The Swiss-born Angola international’s repeated injuries have been a source of continued frustration for his manager. Kusunga hasn’t featured since mid-February.

He had been set to fly to Milan in the off-season to get to the bottom of his problems, but Athletic have now found a specialist in England.

“I have taken a gamble on him,” said Johnson. “Players will always get injured, but we need to get a good 35 games out of him next season.

“We have found a specialist in England now and will get everything checked out. It could well be he has just been unlucky.

“We also have a big problem in that Basel haven’t given us his medical records. We have asked for them eight times. It is unprofessional.”

Of those out-of-contract players who are currently reflecting on offers made to them, James Wesolowski and Paul Rachubka are rated as 50-50 shots to re-sign, with Connor Brown substantially more likely.

No final decision has been officially made on whether to offer deals to goalkeeper Luke Simpson or midfielder Anton Rodgers.

The clause in Adam Lockwood’s deal, triggered by his 13th start for the club, means he has a contract for next season waiting to be signed.



ATHLETIC could finally be set to receive a large cash windfall from the sale of Manchester City defender Micah Richards.

Richards has a year remaining on his contract but, at 25, may feel the time is right to move on after being pushed out of the side by Pablo Zabaleta.

Athletic are due 20-per-cent of any fee City receive for Richards, a former junior at Boundary Park, as part of the arrangement which first took him to the new Premier League champions.