Under starter’s orders

Reporter: Matthew Chambers
Date published: 26 January 2015


ATHLETIC hope to be in a position to start Jacob Mellis as soon as possible, after the midfield schemer made a positive contribution as a substitute at Gillingham.

The 24-year-old, who has signed on loan from Blackpool for the remainder of the season, pleased his manager Lee Johnson in showing purpose when running with the ball in the 3-2 loss at Priestfield.

And though the former Chelsea trainee had to wait until he replaced Carl Winchester in the 72nd minute to show what he was about, once up to full speed Johnson sees his latest acquisition as part of his starting XI.

“We have to assess him properly,” Johnson said of Mellis. “He has had a hamstring injury, but he was excellent when he came on and I was really pleased.

“You can tell he is a class above in his play.”

Johnson warned that it is “never easy” to bring in new players but feels there is a need to do so, quickly.

Talks are continuing with targets. With so few options up front, Amari Morgan-Smith started for the second game alongside Dominic Poleon in attack. A new forward is a priority.

“We didn’t really have an option as a striker apart from young Devante Jacobs,” Johnson added.

“It shows up when you need to change a dynamic. Your bench needs to be strong and at the moment, it is not as strong as we would like it to be.”

Jonathan Forte could overcome his groin injury to give the squad a lift ahead of the home Notts County game on Saturday, but that isn’t guaranteed.

“It isn’t out of the realms of possibility,” Johnson revealed. “He hasn’t trained yet so we have to see how he is on the grass this week.”

On Athletic’s latest defeat – which leaves the club 14th in the table – Johnson bemoaned the awful opening, with two goals shipped in the first 14 minutes.

“It was sloppy play,” he said. “George Elokobi popped out of the slot for the first one. Then James Wilson has a little prance up, as he does sometimes, plays a square ball and gives it away.

“They were two disappointing goals. But we then showed fantastic character to get back in the game.

“But we came out in the second half and didn’t start great again. After a good spell, they scored and we couldn’t quite manage to get it in during the final 15 minutes.”