Feeney will be a big player for us — Dickov

ATHLETIC manager Paul Dickov has revealed that striker Warren Feeney formed an integral part of his pre-season thinking.

The 29-year-old was brought to Boundary Park in the summer despite strong interest from a number of other clubs.

Up to now, injuries and spells away on international duty with Northern Ireland have blunted Feeney’s progress.

The former Luton Town and Stockport County player has only started two matches, the latest being the goalless home draw with Yeovil two weeks ago.

But with Athletic struggling to put away the chances that were served up in the draw with Bristol Rovers, Dickov is likely to turn to experience against Peterborough at London Road tomorrow (3pm kick-off).

“Feens picked up an injury in pre-season, played against Tranmere, picked up another injury, came back and then went away again on Northern Ireland duty,” Dickov said.

“But he will be a big player for us this year. On and off the pitch he is a real character.

“The reason we brought him in is because the way he plays fits in with the way we want the team to play.

“He is a leader. The other strikers have done well, but we brought Warren in to lead and defend from the front.

“If we can get him at it, with more games under his belt, he will be a big player for us.”

Athletic have started the season with two wins and three draws and could top npower League One by knocking over Posh.

But any thoughts of going beyond the eight-game unbeaten start two seasons ago — the best since the glorious promotion season of 1990-91 — have to be tempered with the knowledge that under boss Gary Johnson, Peterborough are a quality side with match-winners in their ranks.

“They are one of the favourites to go up this season,” said Dickov of a side who have won both their home games, against Bristol Rovers and Huddersfield. “They have got possibly the best striking partnership in the division (Aaron McLean and Craig Mackail-Smith), which we will have to deal with.

“They are two players we have to respect because they work ever so hard and are a real threat.

“Then in George Boyd they have a match-winner at any level, but as always, we will go there to win.

“It will be a good game of football as they play in a similar way to us, with a high tempo and defending from the front while playing in the other team’s half.”



Athletic: Brill, Lee, Jarrett, Mvoto, Hazell, Black, Dikaba, Stephens, Jones, Furman, Taylor, Tounkara, Kelly, Gerrard, Gregan, Jacobson, Bembo-Leta, Smalley, Dickov, Feeney.


Johnson expecting tough encounter

PETERBOROUGH are likely to recall skipper Grant McCann to the starting line-up after his stint on Northern Ireland duty.

Winger Nathaniel Mendez-Laing, on loan from Wolves, could also step back into the side, but Arron Davies, Nana Ofori-Twumasi and Lee Frecklington are all missing through injury.

Posh boss Gary Johnson is searching for a third successive home win but expects a difficult game from player-boss Paul Dickov’s men.

“I fully expect Oldham to play in the style of their manager,” said Johnson. “Paul was an aggressive player, but he was also a very good technical footballer.

“He has been described as a ‘pest’, but to me that just meant he was a constant threat to the opposition. He has his team playing his way and so far it has worked.

“But it’s another great game for us to face after our defeat last week. Oldham are just above us and with the top two playing each other there is a chance we could go top.”



Chance to win tickets

TO celebrate their sponsorship of the Football League from the beginning of the 2010/11 season, npower are giving away five pairs of tickets for every one of Athletic’s home games.


You can only enter by buying tonight’s Chronicle or the E-Chron - subscription only, click the link