Taylor out of Latics line-up for Leeds

DAVE PENNEY has revealed that Chris Taylor WON’T play against Leeds United tonight — and there is no sign yet as to when he will be back in action.

The Athletic boss said that though the the winger has recovered from the flu-like illness which had apparently kept him out of last week’s trip to Walsall, he is suffering the effects of a pulled hamstring.

“He possibly picked it up against Colchester,” said Penney, of a player who has had a frustrating stop-start season. “He won’t play and we don’t know how long he is out for.”

The blow means that Nick Blackman, Ryan Brooke and Keigan Parker will all bid to start tonight’s League One clash at Boundary Park up front alongside debutant loan man Paul Heffernan — a player Penney has high hopes of.

“It has been an ongoing theme with Paul,” said Penney, who said the departure of Lee Hills, whose loan spell effectively ended when he was sent off at Walsall, freed up enough of the playing budget to bring in Heffernan.

“He was on his way here a few years ago when I pinched him for Doncaster.

“I know him well and he is a real finisher. With us missing Pawel Abbott (through injury) we felt we needed to bring in a recognised goalscorer.

“He is a player who comes alive in the box and hopefully we can supply him with chances.”

Athletic have a couple of injury worries at the back, too.

Andy Holdsworth is still suffering from the tendonitis which plagued him earlier this season and Reuben Hazell’s calf strain means he is a touch-and-go chance against the League One leaders tonight.

Alex Marrow, Joe Jacobson, Kelvin Lomax and Paul Black could all feature tonight against a United side Penney expects will be stronger than the one which drew 1-1 at Kettering in the second round of the FA Cup on Sunday.

“They have four or five who didn’t play (against Kettering) and they have got depth, strength and good players,” Penney added.

“Whatever side they put out, it will be a tough game for us.

“I watched the Kettering game and they played with a lot of heart against Leeds. It is important we try to get ahead in the game just as they did.”

Athletic (from): Flahavan, Holdsworth, Hazell, Gregan, Jacobson, Smalley, Furman, Whitaker, Colbeck, Brooke, Blackman, Parker, Lomax, Brill, Black, Lee, Stephens, Marrow, Heffernan.

Leeds boss Simon Grayson, who welcomes back cup-tied loan men Hogan Ephraim, Sam Vokes and Max Gradel to his squad, is hoping to keep his team’s feet on the ground after they landed a possible plum draw at Old Trafford in the next round of the FA Cup.

“We’ve got a lot of important games before then. That will take care of itself, but it’s a great incentive,” said Grayson, who is likely to be without Richard Naylor (calf), Bradley Johnson (thigh), Andrew Hughes (groin) and Shane Higgs (thigh).

“The players know what the biggest thing is next - it’s the Oldham game.”

Leeds (from): Ankergren, Capaldi, Crowe, Bromby, Michalik, Doyle, Snodgrass, Kilkenny, Howson, Beckford, Grella, Martin, Marques, White, Prutton, Robinson, Becchio, Showunmi, Ephraim, Vokes, Gradel.