Brill handed new chance

BEN AMOS

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OUT OF favour shot-stopper Dean Brill is set for a return to first-team action against Brighton this weekend.

The 25-year-old hasn’t played since he was dropped following Athletic’s 2-1 home derby loss to Rochdale at the turn of the year.

In came on-loan goalkeeper Ben Amos in his place, to good effect. But the Manchester United player has been recalled to Old Trafford by his parent club,

leaving a window of opportunity for ex-Luton man Brill to prove his worth against the npower League One leaders at Boundary Park on Saturday.

Athletic have admitted United’s decision to invoke a 24-hour release clause built into the youth loan of Amos — a move brought on by forthcoming knee surgery for Denmark international stopper Anders Lindegaard — has come as a blow.

Though the 20-year-old made a handful of errors which led to goals during his 16-game spell at Boundary Park, he also produced a number of Premier League-class saves.

One in particular, at home against Carlisle in front of a bumper crowd, was described by some fans as one of the finest ever produced by an Athletic ‘keeper.

Athletic manager Paul Dickov is unlikely to fetch a replacement for Amos, particularly with the club’s play-off hopes having now disappeared.

That leaves the door open for Brill to once again bounce back from the disappointment of being left out of the side.