Step it up!

UP AND RUNNING: Daniel Johnson fires Athletic in front against Crawley

 ATHLETIC’S players will be put through the mill this week as a make-or-break period of the season begins with a visit to Sheffield United.

Boss Lee Johnson was unhappy with the team’s energy level in the disappointing 1-1 home draw with Crawley on Saturday.

With a season-defining period coming up — games at Bramall Lane and Rochdale and knock-out ties in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy and FA Cup — Athletic’s manager is determined to stimulate better performances.

“We went into the Crawley game thinking it was difficult to pick a team. So the players have got to play well to keep the shirt,” Johnson said. “Two or three failed on that and that was the real disappointment for me. We just have to dust ourselves off and have a physical week, which is something we could do with.”

After the appointment of new first-team Dean Holden on Friday, Johnson believes he now has a backroom staff full of energy.

“We have a bit of everything,” he said. “There is a youthful dynamic and there are some obsessed people in there, which is important. I am delighted to bring in Dean and I am sure he will have a positive effect.”

Carl Winchester could feature against Sheffield United. Having not played any part for Northern Ireland on Friday in a 2-0 loss in Romania, he returned home to take a non-playing role on Athletic’s substitutes’ bench next day.

“Carl got in at about 11.45am on the day of the game, after taking two flights and being picked up,” Johnson said. “I felt we were better off saving him.”

Johnson admitted he would like to bring in another striker on loan for further competition within the squad.

“We have got forwards,” he said. “In an ideal world we would have another to make it five.”



ATHLETIC will face either Notts County or Doncaster away in the semi-finals of the Northern section of the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy.

Athletic first have to beat Preston at SportsDirect.com Park on November 25.



Genseric Kusunga should be available for the whole of the African Cup of Nations finals in Equitorial Guinea early next year. He was in the Angola side which drew 0-0 at home with Gabon in a qualifying clash on Saturday in Luanda, a result which has all but ended the Angolans’ hopes of making the tournament.