Competition fierce for place at centre-back

Reporter: Matthew Chambers
Date published: 19 November 2014


A four-way battle in shaping for the right to play at centre-back alongside James Wilson at Bramall Lane on Saturday.

Leading the way is Timothee Dieng, who did little wrong defensively in the disappointing 1-1 home draw with Crawley.

That result stifled Athletic’s momentum in chasing down a top-six spot in the league — making the game at Sheffield United even bigger than it was already.

Adam Lockwood’s chances of taking Dieng’s spot against the Blades appear to have receded after disappointment over his performance for the reserves against Morecambe this week.

An outside shot is a return for George Elokobi, who hasn’t kicked a ball in a match since a thigh injury at the end of September.

If Genseric Kusunga gets through unscathed against Angola tonight, he could be preferred to Dieng.

The 26-year-old is in action in the early evening in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Burkina Faso.

“We'll be quite well off in the defensive department due to Genseric Kusunga returning from his international travels and George Elokobi coming back from injury.”



Johnson watched as Doncaster won 4-1 at Conference South outfit Weston-super-Mare in the rearranged FA Cup tie last night - which means Paul Dickov’s men will travel to SportsDirect.com Park for the second-round tie on December 6.

“It’ll be good to go back,” said Dickov of his impending return to Oldham.