Seniors get for Latics service

SEASONED professionals Andy Liddell, Sean Gregan, Lee Hughes and Mark Crossley are all set to be handed their first pre-season action when Athletic face Grimsby Town tomorrow.

The quartet sat out a midweek victory at Rhyl, but they are firmly in John Sheridan’s plans for the trip to Blundell Park (1pm kick-off).

Liddell and Gregan both missed long spells of last season with Achilles injuries and only returned in the final month of the campaign.

They are looking to be 100-per-cent fit when Athletic kick off in League One three weeks tomorrow, while Hughes is also on the comeback trail after several months out with a groin problem.

Goalkeeper Crossley missed the Rhyl game for personal reasons, but Sheridan hopes to use all of his fit players tomorrow – and he could also experiment with personnel and systems.

He said: “I’ve always been a 4-4-2 man, but we’ve got one or two things to look at and now is the time to do it.

“I’m going to have a problem this season because if everybody is fit there’s a lot of competition – whoever starts off in the team will have a battle to keep hold of their place.

“There’s pressure on me because people will be left out and everyone will be asking why I’ve done it, but it’s all part of my job.

“You need competition in the squad. I’m going to have a look at things and maybe try something a bit different up front.”

The number of strikers available to Sheridan means he may deploy a three-man attack at Grimsby, who finished in the bottom half of League Two last season.

Meanwhile, Athletic are likely to discover this weekend whether or not Kevin Maher will be accepting their contract offer.

Maher is set to hold talks with Gillingham, where he has been training in pre-season after a loan spell last term.

League One club Swindon are also chasing the experienced former Southend midfielder, who is available as a free agent.

Gillingham boss Mark Stimson said: “It would be great to have him on board, but there is competition from Swindon and Oldham and he’ll be thinking about that.

“If we can put something down that attracts him, then hopefully he’ll give us an answer over the weekend, or early Monday morning.”

THE cricket match Athletic were due to play at Delph last week has been rescheduled for Monday at 5pm.

The game is being used as a bonding session, but fans are welcome to attend and meet the players.