Dickov puts trust in players

ATHLETIC’S players can rest easy on Christmas Day . . . after manager Paul Dickov decided against hauling them in for training.

An inspection was set to take place at Boundary Park today, with the game against Carlisle United at Boundary Park on Boxing Day in serious doubt due to a frozen pitch.

But while Dickov was putting his players through their paces again this morning with that game firmly in focus, he was allowing them to spend the following day unwrapping presents and tucking into turkey — and believes that nobody will overindulge.

“The players will be off on Christmas Day,” Dickov said. “They deserve it. They work hard every day and Christmas Day is a time they can spend with their families.

“I trust every one of them and that is because they have given me every reason to trust them.”

After Carlisle on Sunday, Athletic’s next scheduled fixture is away at Colchester on Tuesday, December 28 (3pm), followed by a trip to Hartlepool United on New Year’s Day and the home derby with Rochdale two days later.