Sheridan facing a double dilemma

KEVIN MAHER: Could get a recall to the starting line-up.

KEVIN Maher and Stefan Stam provide Athletic manager John Sheridan with a couple of selection conundrums for tomorrow’s Coca-Cola League One fixture at high-flying Peterborough.

Sheridan has to decide whether to recall the pair, who were in the starting line up for the wins at Northampton and Southend in the last two away fixtures, but who found themselves relegated to the bench at home to Brighton last Saturday.

Midfield-man Maher was unlucky to lose his place after starting in the three previous league games which had all ended in victory, as Sheridan recalled the fit-again Danny Whitaker to partner Mark Allott in the two central positions.

It will be a case of two from three for Sheridan, with many believing Maher is better suited than the attack-minded Whitaker in away fixtures.

And it is a similar scenario at the back where Reuben Hazell, Sean Gregan and Stam are battling for two places.

Hazell and Stam were the central-defensive pairing for the away wins at Northampton and Southend in which only one goal was conceded.

It will be a difficult decision for Sheridan who said: “We have players who are better away and others who are more effective at home.

“I will have to look at the situation and select the side which I think has the best chance of winning us the game, though everyone will have their opinion.

“I will look at how Peterborough play and I know they will be a big threat, especially from Craig Mickail-Smith, Aaron McLean and George Boyd up front.

“They are a good team, but they are not Real Madrid, and we have to be confident we can go and win the game.

“We are not going to sit back and let them attack us. We will take the game to them and I am convinced we can cause them problems if we do the right things.”

Athletic will make a late decision on Gregan, who is still suffering pain and discomfort from a cut to the inside of his mouth sustained against Brighton which needed stitching.

On-loan striker Darren Byfield is expected to return after recovering from the toe injury which kept him out of the Brighton game. It is the last game of his month at Boundary Park.

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

Peterborough, unbeaten in League One since August 30, hope to have regular full-backs Russell Martin and Tom Williams back in their side after the pair were ruled out of the midweek FA Cup replay at Tranmere.




ATHLETIC still have places on the supporters coach for tomorrow’s game. It leaves Boundary Park at 10.30am and the cost is £15.



It is pay on the turnstiles for all fans going to Peterborough, where Athletic have been allocated 3,500 standing places and 700 seats.