Latics playing it safe with Lockwood

ATHLETIC aren’t banking on Adam Lockwood to be back in the team for another six weeks, as the club bid to avoid the fate that befell Andy Carroll.

The club captain (32) has been badly missed this season after sustaining a foot injury in a friendly at Barrow.

Centre-back Lockwood is now out of his protective boot and walking normally, but the level of caution means he is unlikely to be back in first-team action until mid-October.

“We need to make sure it heals properly and then slowly ease him into it,” said manager Lee Johnson.

West Ham striker Carroll suffered a similar injury to Lockwood in the final game of the 2012-13 season.

The Premier League striker then aggravated the same problem back in training – and was out for a total of eight months.

Johnson has meanwhile scotched rumours that Athletic are close to signing out-of-contract former Leeds and Sheffield United goalkeeper Paddy Kenny (36).

“There is no truth in it, apart from that Paddy Kenny is a fantastic goalkeeper,” Johnson said. “He is available and on the market and a number of clubs are after him.

“Do we turn down the chance to speak to any good player? Of course not. But you have to assess within your squad what you feel is a priority and at the moment for us, a goalkeeper is not a priority.”