Shez supports skipper Gregan

ATHLETIC captain Sean Gregan has won the backing of his manager as he looks forward to a first-team comeback at Boundary Park tonight.

Gregan has been dropped to the bench for two of the last three games, but he will replace the banned Reuben Hazell against Walsall (7.45 kick-off).

The defender recently admitted off-field problems, including his arrest on suspicion of drink-driving, had been affecting his football.

He said: “I am having a pretty hard time and it’s not just what has been reported in the local papers. There are another three or four things on top of that.”

But Athletic boss John Sheridan gave Gregan his full support.

Sheridan said: “Sean is experienced enough and a good-enough player to come back in and play at his best.

“He’s lucky that football is there to take his mind off things. He’s my captain, he’s a leader and if he plays well it will help the team.

“I’ve left him out a couple of times and I hate doing that to any player – it’s the hardest part of my job.

“I took four players down to Southend who weren’t even on the bench, but when the opportunity comes you’ve got to take it.”

Gregan will step into the heart of defence as Hazell, who has been ever-present since March, misses out after collecting five yellow cards.

Athletic won at Southend on Saturday, but Danny Whitaker may be recalled in midfield after recovering from an ankle knock and Sheridan is considering other changes.

He explained: “I’ve got a dilemma because I look at certain players and they perform differently home and away.

“Some of them are better in away games, so I might need to make one or two decisions.”

Whitaker, Chris O’Grady, Matt Wolfenden and Dale Stephens all travelled to Southend without being involved in the final squad. Injury is set to keep Deane Smalley on the sidelines.

ATHLETIC (from): Crossley, Lomax, Gregan, Stam, Jones, Liddell, Allott, Maher, Taylor, Byfield, Hughes, Whitaker, Eardley, Alessandra, Lee, O’Grady, Wolfenden, Stephens, Fleming.

Walsall have doubts over goalkeeper Clayton Ince (hamstring) and captain Stephen Hughes (whiplash), but Jabo Ibehre (knee) and Stephen Roberts (groin infection) could return.

WALSALL (from): Ince, Weston, Gerrard, Smith, Palmer, Deeney, Mattis, Hughes, Taundry, Nicholls, Ricketts, Bradley, Zaaboub, Boertien, Reich, Ibehre, Roberts, Gilmartin.