New injuries worry Latics

Andy Holdsworth (right) took a painful kick on a knee.

ATHLETIC have two new injury worries as they begin the build-up to Saturday’s home game against Carlisle in Coca-Cola League One.

Andy Holdsworth and Nick Blackman both sat out training yesterday having picked up knocks in Saturday’s league defeat at Bristol Rovers.

Right-back Holdsworth came off after an hour at the Memorial Ground after receiving a painful kick to a knee.

Striker Blackman, meanwhile, was feeling the affects of a whack to a foot in the same game.

Manager Dave Penney is hoping both players will have recovered in time for Saturday.

It looks increasingly unlikely, however, that Jon Worthington will be back after he was ruled out of Saturday’s game with an ankle problem.

The midfield man, who has received three separate knocks on the same ankle in the space of a couple of weeks, was today seeing a specialist who was taking a closer look at the injury.

Joe Jacobson is set to continue his comeback tomorrow in the reserves against Tranmere at Cammell Laird.

The left-back, who sustained a pelvic problem pre-season, played half a game for the reserves against Wrexham last Wednesday, his first competitive action of the campaign.

But hopes that Rob Purdie would return from his lengthy lay-off against Tranmere have been dashed.

Penney admitted Purdie, who only resumed full training last week, is not ready for match action.

Purdie sustained a pelvic problem in early June when the players were ordered back for an extra week’s training.

Athletic youth-team player Danny Bell has been put on stand-by for Wales for their UEFA under-17 championship matches against Russia, Iceland and Bosnia-Herzegovina between September 26 and October 3.