Latics boss given food for thought

Reporter: by SIMON SMEDLEY
Date published: 11 July 2014


ATHLETIC boss Lee Johnson has some big decisions to make over the next few days after all SIX of his trialists impressed during last night’s thumping 8-1 victory at Evo-Stik League top flight neighbours Curzon Ashton.

The names of four of the players — all attack-minded and one of whom scored at the Tameside Stadium — must remain under wraps for now.

But ex-Kilmarnock striker William Gros and Spanish centre-back Miguel Llera — released by Sheffield Wednesday during the summer — starred as Johnson again fielded two different teams in each half.

Jonson Clarke-Harris bagged a brace to make it three goals in two pre-season games for him, while Genseric Kusunga, Carl Winchester (two) and Rhys Turner (two) completed a hugely satisfactory evening’s work.

Johnson is now weighing up his numerous options, but considerations will be plentiful as lots of homework has clearly already been done on each one of the trialists at the club.

Johnson said: “All the trialists looked really good. I’d sign them all if I could.

“They’ve all shown a good attitude since they joined us. It’s been a pleasure on both parts. We’ll have to see now.

“I’ll be making decisions very soon, bit those decisions won’t have been based on just 10 days training since we came back after the summer break.

“Between us all, we’ve probably watched each of the players we trialled tonight at least 20 times.

UNTURNED

“No stone will have been left unturned with any of them.”

Llera (34) is a giant Spanish central defender who was released by the Owls at the end of last term.

His former English clubs include MK Dons, Charlton Athletic, Blackpool and Brentford, but he became a favourite at Wednesday, for whom he played 83 times between 2011 and the summer, scoring 10 times.

Johnson is a fan and clearly feels Llera would be a valuable addition to the squad.

The Athletic boss added: “What a fantastic character he is, what a great lad.

“Every day he’s come in to us he’s been asking to do extra. He’s just quality.

“To get someone like that in the squad would only be a positive thing, but we have to assess a number of things with all the trialists — we haven’t got an bottomless pot of money to dip into.

“We have got Adam Lockwood, James Wilson and Genseric Kusunga already in that position, so we have to think ‘do we need another centre-half or not?’

“Of course he’s got terrific experience, but whether it’s us or somebody else, whoever it is will be getting a really top quality player.”

Clarke-Harris turned his ankle shortly before half-time last night, but he was replaced by Jordan Bove earlier than planned purely as a precaution.

Athletic are next in action at SportsDirect.com Park on Tuesday when Premier League giants Newcastle are in town, but reflecting on last night’s all-round performance at Curzon, Johnson had no complaints.

He said: “I was pleased we got ourselves a few goals. We showed good movement, good rotation — there was a good team dynamic in both halves.

“Obviously it was tough for Curzon in the second half as they were a bit demoralised, but generally it was a good effort for a team who have been back in for just 10 days or so.

“It was disappointing to lose the goal at the end, but good goals and good team play is all I can ask for really.

“There is still stuff to work on of course, and we certainly won’t be getting carried away, but credit to the players — they acquitted themselves really well.”