Midfielder’s race to face Crawley

Carl Winchester: N Ireland call-up

CARL Winchester could be involved in Athletic’s home game with Crawley on Saturday - in spite of his late call-up for Northern Ireland.

The 21-year-old midfield star has been rewarded with a chance to join Michael O’Neill’s senior squad ahead of the crucial Euro 2016 qualifier in Romania on Friday night.

If Winchester doesn’t gain his second senior cap in Bucharest he will be plunged straight back into action for his club, says Lee Johnson.

The manager cited Winchester as an example of the pathway to success offered to young players at Oldham.

“It is brilliant for the club, having a player who has come through the youth team as a full international,” Johnson told the Chronicle.

“I am delighted for Carl. He struggled last year, but he has come back stronger and has earned his call-up.

“Carl is available for Saturday’s game and I am probably going to play him anyway. If he doesn’t feature for Northern Ireland he will be on a flight straight back here, ready for Crawley.”

Belfast-born Winchester has a single full cap and has been a regular performer in the under-21s.

His late inclusion in the senior squad comes with injury doubts over Derby’s Jamie Ward and Southampton’s Steven Davis. Rochdale midfield man Matt Lund has also been named.

While Winchester’s potential early return adds to the options for Crawley (1pm kick-off), Johnson is prepared to listen to offers to get David Mellor back out playing games.

“There is a bit of interest in David for loans,” Johnson added. “The difficulty is that if he goes on loan again then that’s it, the rules say he can’t go anywhere else this season.

Genseric Kusunga misses the Crawley game due to his involvement with Angola, who have a home Africa Cup of Nations qualifying fixture against Gabon in Luanda on Saturday.