Dynamic duo can prosper, says Dickov
Reporter: Chris Lynham
Date published: 01 October 2010
ENGINE ROOM . . . Dale Stephens is at the heart of Athletic’s play, with Dean Furman
PAUL Dickov has backed Dean Furman and Dale Stephens to drive Athletic forward this season – even though opponents have cottoned on to the impact they can make.
The engine room duo, sure to be in the thick of the action against Leyton Orient tomorrow, caught the eye at the start of the season, but have inevitably had their work cut out in recent games.
Athletic boss Dickov believes they can cope with the extra attention afforded to them and play a major part in what is already an intriguing npower League One campaign.
He said: “After the game against Sheffield Wednesday their manager, Alan Irvine, said he and his staff had watched my team more than any other in the division.
“Teams do their homework a lot more now. They have seen the sort of damage Dean and Dale can do and have done their best to subdue them.
“They are not tired and I am not concerned about them.
“At the start of the season they were very important players for us and they still are.
“Both are still young and they will maybe have to adapt aspects of their game when they are up against it in midfield, and make sure they retain possession. I have every faith in them.”
Jason Jarrett is likely to step in at the heart of the defence tomorrow in place of Reuben Hazell, who serves a one-match ban after collecting five yellow cards.
Sean Gregan, currently hampered by a knee injury, is unlikely to feature as he is yet to return to training.
Striker Warren Feeney misses out due to an ankle injury. The length of his absence is unclear as he awaits the results of a scan.
Dickov watched his next opponents against Brentford and expects a difficult encounter.
“Orient looked like a good side. They will come here and work hard,” he said.
“But it is all about what we do. If we can play the way we did in the previous two games, but with a bit more bite up front, we will be all right.”
One of the biggest positives the Scot took from the midweek 0-0 draw at Hillsborough was the stamina shown by his men.
“We had a long journey to and from Brighton and were back on the road to Sheffield three days later,” he said.
“We looked much the fitter and stronger side by the end of the game against Wednesday.
“The boys even said to me in the dressing room afterwards, if it was a cup tie they would have felt fit enough to play extra time.”
Dickov himself is slowly regaining fitness after a string of niggling injuries, but he is in no hurry to enter the fray.
He said: “I need to get a bit fitter. I know the time may come when we need more experience up front.
“But if I put myself in at the moment I would be doing an injustice to the players who are there now.”
