Furman on track for Os return

DEAN Furman is dying to get back into the Athletic fold.

The midfielder, now free of the two-match suspension who stopped him playing against Peterborough and Bournemouth, is on the verge of returning to full training following a bout of illness.

His manager Paul Dickov is confident the 22-year-old will be fit to make the game at Leyton Orient tomorrow.

“I am, mainly because it is Dean with his attitude,” said Dickov.

“You have got to know who you are dealing with sometimes.

“Everybody is diffferent, but Dean is someone who will do everything he can to make sure he is fit for Saturday.”

Dickov is pleased with the way Ritchie Jones has played in the absence of Furman.

But he also admits he will be glad when he can once again unite the ex-Rangers man with Dale Stephens, branding them among the top pairings in npower League One.

“You will always miss Dean because of what he gives you and the pair have formed a good partnership,” he added.

“It is possibly one of the best in the division when firing on all cylinders.

“Ritchie Jones has come on in the last two games and done ever so well, so I don’t want to take away from anything Ritchie has done.

“But when Dean and Dale are firing on all cylinders, you would have to be an idiot not to realise that when one or both are missing, you are not going to be able to play at the same tempo as you would if they were both there.”