Taylor eyes Latics return

COMEBACK TRAIL: Chris Taylor is in contention to face top-flight outfit Wigan Athletic tomorrow.

CHRIS Taylor is in line to return to the Athletic team for tomorrow night’s home friendly with Premier League side Wigan.

The winger hobbled out of the game at Barrow earlier this month with what was feared to be a pulled hamstring.

On closer examination it was found to merely be cramp and the 23-year-old was down to feature against Falkirk on Saturday, before pulling up after over-stretching for a ball in training on the eve of the game.

Manager Paul Dickov said after the disappointing 2-0 defeat to the Scottish side that Taylor, who is set to train today, was the closest of all his injured players to making a return.

After a miserable season last time out, the winger — highlighted as one of the squad’s major talents by assistant boss Gerry Taggart at last week’s fans’ forum — will be keen to get as much game-time in him as possible in order to hit the ground running come the start of the npower League One campaign.

The Wigan game comes too soon for the club’s other injured players.

Captain Sean Gregan has had an injection in a bid to overcome an Achilles problem picked up while running prior to the start of pre-season and Deane Smalley should resume training in a week-and-a-half after a minor groin operation.

Long-term absentees Rob Purdie, Joe Jacobson and Andy Holdsworth are also not too far away from getting a run-out.

Dickov is set to name a strong side for tomorrow’s game, with those men who don’t play likely to instead turn out on Wednesday night in a friendly away to Mossley (7.30pm kick-off). Admission prices have been set at £5 adults, £2 concessions.

Dickov said: “We set the standard against Burnley and that has to be there for every game.

“I can’t expect the players to be at it, 100-per-cent of every game. I have to be realistic but I also want them to know that they set their own level.

“It wasn’t me, or Gerry, or anyone else. And if we are to have half a chance this year then that is the level we have to be at.”

Dickov also said that he wasn’t about to pull on his own boots just yet.

“It is important as manager that I have a good look at everybody at my disposal,” he added.



ATHLETIC have banned use of the vuvuzela at Boundary Park.

The musical instrument proved popular in the recent World Cup in South Africa, but won’t be welcome closer to home.

“We have had a number of fans contacting us requesting the vuvuzela to be banned from Boundary Park which is why we have taken the decision,” said Athletic chief executive Alan Hardy.