Latics wait for Taylor verdict

Chris Taylor: anxious wait for injury prognosis

ATHLETIC are waiting on scan results to find out exactly how long winger Chris Taylor (pictured, on the left) will be ruled out of action for.

The 23-year-old, who has by his own admission had a “nightmare” season after a succession of injuries, picked up a calf problem as a result of a tackle early on in the 2-1 home win over Bristol Rovers at the weekend and was withdrawn from the action at half-time.

Taylor is definitely missing from tonight’s trip to MK Dons (7.45pm kick-off), with Deane Smalley and Joe Colbeck providing alternative wide options for manager Dave Penney.

“We are not sure with Chris whether it is a kick or whether he has pulled something in his calf,” said the Athletic boss, who is aiming for three points at stadium:mk which would see his team edge closer to the Coca-Cola League One safety zone.

“He has had a scan so we will wait for the results on that. He is definitely out for the MK Dons game and we now need to find out the extent of it.”

Penney welcomes back the club’s current player-of-the-month Kieran Lee following a one-match suspension and he is set to slot back in at right-back, with Dean Furman likely to step into the middle of a five-man midfield.

Lewis Guy — whose loan spell from Doncaster was officially extended until the end of the season yesterday — could play out wide as he did to great effect a week ago at Huddersfield, a performance which Penney hopes to emulate tonight with the only difference being the final result.

“We played better at Huddersfield than we did in the two home games that we have won,” Penney added.

“We still have to do the bits right in both boxes but between the penalty areas we can certainly match most teams.

“Hopefully we can go there on what should be a nice pitch, get the ball down and pass it and enjoy ourselves.”

Athletic (probable): Flahavan; Lee, Hazell, Gregan, Black; Smalley, Furman, Stephens, Whitaker, Guy; Abbott. Subs (from): Brill, Aljofree, Worthington, Lomax, Marrow, Colbeck, Lomax, Eaves, Brooke.

A player crisis at MK Dons could result in manager Paul Ince turning to 40-year-old first team coach Alex Rae tonight.

Midfielder Peter Leven starts a two-match suspension and Aaron Wilbraham and David McCracken are also banned while Stephen Gleeson and Sam Baldock (both knee) are out injured.

MK Dons (from): Gueret, Lewington, O’Hanlon, Powell, Woodards, Howell, Chadwick, Carrington, Randall, Easter, Baldock, Davis, Chicksen, Doumbe, Rae, Gobern, Searle.




ATHLETIC’S reserves won 1-0 away at Accrington last night, with Matthew A Carr getting the only goal of the game.