Penney weighs up his options
Reporter: by MATTHEW CHAMBERS
Date published: 30 October 2009
ATHLETIC manager Dave Penney has an increasing number of options open to him for the visit of Huddersfield Town to Boundary Park on Sunday (2pm kick-off).
Deane Smalley came through his second brief run-out with no apparent adverse effects this week, an earlier-than-expected return to action from a back injury which had threatened to wreck his season.
And the 21-year-old forward now has an outside shot at claiming one of the seven substitute spots for the Coca-Cola League One clash.
After appearing in a closed-doors friendly with Bury last week, Smalley helped set up the winner for Ryan Brooke in a 2-1 Manchester Senior Cup victory over Bolton on Monday.
Another possible change to the squad that defeated Brighton 2-0 last week could see Chris Taylor come back into the starting line-up on the left of midfield in place of Danny Whitaker, although Penney may be unwilling to switch a winning side.
After coming on to good effect during the last 20 minutes at the Withdean Stadium — winning the free-kick that lead to Reuben Hazell’s goal — Taylor was rested on Monday night despite originally having been named in the squad.
Former Huddersfield man Andy Holdsworth also played in that reserves match and, after impressing, is pushing hard for a place in the side against the club he made 231 appearances for after coming through the ranks.
The remainder of the squad is likely to remain unchanged in what could be left-back Alan Sheehan’s last match for Athletic.
The Leeds United player’s loan period doesn’t expire until after next week’s FA Cup first round tie, but Sheehan doesn’t have permission to play against his parent club.
Penney will finalise his plans later than usual due to the game taking place on Sunday, with Athletic officials hopeful that the move will serve to boost an expected big crowd.
Fans can pay at the turnstiles.
Free-scoring Huddersfield Town, who are expected to bring 3,000 fans to Boundary Park, are only a point clear of Athletic in the League One table.
But they have racked up a further 15 goals on top of Athletic’s 13 and have only let in two more than Dave Penney’s men.
Boss Lee Clark has been known to chop and change his side this season and, in searching for the formula to help bring about a first away point in five matches, the former Newcastle United midfielder could hand substitute places to striker Robbie Simpson and defensive midfielder Tom Clarke.
LIKELY LINE-UPS
Athletic (from): Brill, Lomax, Hazell, Gregan, Sheehan, Colbeck, Marrow, Furman, Taylor, Abbott, Parker, Ollerenshaw, Black, Holdsworth, Whitaker, Lee, Blackman, Brooke, Smalley.
Huddersfield (possible): Smithies; Peltier, P Clarke, N Clarke, Williams; Roberts, Collins, Kay, Pilkington; Novak, Rhodes. Subs (from): Glennon, Butler, Goodwin, Berrett, Drinkwater, Ainsworth, Robinson, Simpson, T Clarke.
