Penney praises dynamic duo

Dale Stephens: Grabbed his first-team chance.

ATHLETIC boss Dave Penney paid tribute to two almost-forgotten players ahead of tomorrow’s Carlisle test.

Central midfielder Dale Stephens and utility man Kieran Lee are in great form at the moment and have helped Athletic reach 47 points in Coca-Cola League One.

That is one win shy of the total probably needed to ensure the club stays in the same division for next season – a campaign in which both Stephens and Lee will hope to be two of the first names on the team sheet.

“We are delighted that they have come through,” said Penney of Stephens (20) and Lee (21), the latter of whom is seeking a new contract.

“They haven’t had much of a look-in since they have been at the football club and they have been here for some time.

“With players moving on, their chance has come along and they had to grab it. It didn’t look like they were going to before Christmas, but since then they have kicked on and both were excellent the other night.

“Kieran can play right-back, left-back, in any of the wide areas and in midfield so it is great for a manager to have a player like that. He is on top of his game at the moment and enjoying himself.”

Penney reckons that his team simply need to tweak at the margins to turn results like the 0–0 midweek draw at MK Dons into wins.

Carlisle’s form has been hit and miss this season and an Athletic away-day victory would represent the Cumbrians’ ninth home loss.

“We are quite capable of going anywhere and getting a result,” Penney added. “We will get the report of their game against Leeds before deciding which personnel we go with and send a team up there to win the game.

“Carlisle have a few injuries as well. With 54 points they can’t go up and they can’t go down either, but it will be a tough test as it was in the Carling Cup up there earlier in the season when it was fairly even.

“We are playing well and, especially away from home, the performances have been good.”

Tom Eaves and Ryan Brooke pushed for starting roles by cracking five and three goals, respectively, against an inexperienced Blackpool reserves side earlier this week, but both may have to settle for places on the bench.

Kirk Millar has resumed training following a calf strain and could feature tomorrow.

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

Carlisle manager Greg Abbott is likely to be without injured striker Jason Price – who had a loan spell at Athletic earlier this season – once again due to a hamstring problem.