Captain back at the helm

reuben hazell . . . set to return to starting line-up.

Latics poised for Hazell tonic
CAPTAIN Reuben Hazell is set to provide some missing leadership at the heart of Athletic’s defence tonight.

The 31-year-old has been absent from the last five line-ups for Dickov’s out-of-form side, firstly through a two-game suspension and then a back strain which has subsided.

Eight goals have been conceded by Athletic in the last two matches and if Hazell came through today’s training session with no problems he will probably line up alongside Neal Trotman for tonight’s home clash with Sheffield Wednesday (7.45pm kick-off).

Dickov — who could put himself on the substitutes’ bench tonight — has resigned himself to the likelihood that Dean Furman may not be able to return to midfield after a two-game suspension due to his picking up an illness bug doing the rounds at the club.

But the Scot isn’t cursing his luck and won’t stand for any of his players doing the same as Athletic try to end a seven-match run without a victory.

“One thing we don’t do is mope around the place,” said Dickov, who wants his team to hit the net for the first time in nine hours and 40 minutes of football tonight.

“They are playing football for a living and have to realise it’s the best job in the world.

“To be successful, every single day and on a matchday you have to do your job to the best of your ability. And do it with a bit of enthusiasm and a bit of pride.

“The one thing I won’t accept between now and the end of the season is people going through the motions.

“I still feel, with a couple of back-to-back wins we can be back up there.

“If for any reason we can’t be, we have a duty to the football club and the fans to go out in the last 12 games and give it everything we have got.”

Looking further ahead, Dickov remains keen to bring back former loan star Jean-Yves Mvoto to the club from Sunderland.

“We are hoping to, but the big man is not fit yet,” he added.

“He was at the specialist on Friday and had an injection in his ankle. He is about a week away.

“We are always interested in good players and Jean was a big player for us.”

Wednesday manager Gary Megson is expecting to name an unchanged squad, though he may alter the starting line-up which went down 4-2 at home to Plymouth on Saturday.

Former Athletic winger Jermaine Johnson, who featured as a half-time substitute after a month-long lay-off with illness, is pushing for a start.

The Owls have won only one of their seven matches under Megson and are separated from the relegation zone by five points.


BRISTOL Rovers have sacked former Athletic manager Dave Penney, after fewer than two months in charge at the Memorial Ground.
The 46-year-old replaced Paul Trollope in January, but has failed to turn around the form of the League One strugglers, losing nine of his 13 games.