Time to get back on song - Royle

Reuben Hazell (left) agreed a fresh contract with Athletic.

JOE ROYLE admits this is a defining week in Athletic’s bid for promotion from Coca-Cola League One.

Tonight’s trip to Cheltenham and Saturday’s away-day at Leyton Orient are likely to shape the remainder of the campaign, according to the Athletic manager.

Royle, whose side has slipped to eighth place, six points adrift of the play-off places with eight games left, said: “It is a big week with two away games and we have to get back on song.

“Our current form of one win in seven games is not good enough. We have to reverse that quickly if we are to make a challenge for the play-offs. We can be right back up there on Saturday night if we have two positive results.

“We need to find form, somebody other than Lee Hughes to score us a goal, a clean sheet, better passing than Saturday, better ball retention.”

Royle says he has also thrown down the gauntlet to his players to prove they are up for the battle. He said: “I am going to challenge the players and ask them do they want this season to fizzle out. Have they got their holiday heads on or do they want to think of Wembley, because if they don’t think of it, it won’t happen.”

Royle has two enforced changes as Stefan Stam is suspended while Ian Westlake cannot play against Cheltenham, the club he is contracted to.

Reuben Hazell, who has completed a two-match ban, will replace Stam in the centre of defence.

The Athletic manager says he could possibly make further changes in his bid to find a winning formula.

He said: “I am looking for a balance, a threat and players who are up for the challenge.

“We have relied far too heavily on Lee Hughes for goals and, apart from Chris Taylor’s contribution, we don’t have anybody else who is goal hungry. I am looking for that from within the squad and maybe from outside.”

Royle is confident Taylor will have recovered from the dead leg which he sustained on Saturday. He has since also had a chest infection.

The Athletic manager adds Hazell, Lewis Alessandra, Kelvin Lomax and Fabio Ferreira to the squad.

Royle is keen to take a look at Ferreira, saying he has looked bright in training and he evidently has something if he has played for Sporting Lisbon and Chelsea.

Scott Golbourne has returned to Reading after Royle decided his priorities lie elsewhere as he is well blessed for left-backs.

ATHLETIC (from): Supple, Fleming, Eardley, Jones, Lomax, Gregan, Hazell, Smalley, Liddell, Whitaker, Maher, Allott, Taylor, Hughes, Kabba, Alessandra, Ferreira.

Cheltenham have injury worries with Lee Ridley, Shane Duff, John Finnigan and David Bird all picking up knocks in Saturday’s 2-2 draw at Huddersfield.

Defender Alan Wright and striker Paul Connor may return after injury and there is likely to be a debut for 20-year-old Frankie Artus who has signed on loan from Bristol City.

And 15-year-old schoolboy Jamie Edge, a midfield player, has been named in the squad.