Lee suffers new setback

Kieran Lee: Hamstring problems.

SUMMER SIGNING Kieran Lee has been dealt a new injury setback as he struggles to establish a first-team place with Athletic.

The 20-year-old former Manchester United player has been forced to pull out of tonight’s reserve-team match against Stockport County due to a tight hamstring.

Lee’s hopes of getting off to a flying start at Boundary Park were dented by a hamstring injury sustained early in the pre-season programme.

He recovered and made two first-team appearances as a substitute before sustaining a new injury in the opposite hamstring.

But there is some cheer on the injury front tonight as Matty Wolfenden makes his long-awaited return against County at Edgeley Park (7.0).

The striker has recovered from a thigh-muscle injury which has kept him on the sidelines since pre-season.

Wolfenden had been due to play in the reserves last week but pulled out after feeling a twinge in the muscle.

Now after a troublefree week’s training, Wolfenden is raring to get his season off the ground.

Manager John Sheridan will be taking a keen interest in tonight’s game when his main priority is finding a defensive replacement for Sean Gregan, who misses Saturday’s home game against Huddersfield Town as he begins a three-match ban following his dismissal at Hartlepool.

Stefan Stam, Richie Byrne and John Thompson, who can all play in the centre of defence, will all be out to impress Sheridan.

Front players Craig Davies and Deane Smalley, who have been unable to command regular starting spots, also get a run out.

Reserves: Fleming, Rowney, Byrne, Kalala, Thompson, Stam, Smalley, Stephens, trialist, Davies, Wolfenden. Subs: Bell, Dawson, Kilcourse, Asdaile-Biney, Eaves.