Dickov’s faith

RAN Brooke will partner Reuben Reid up front tonight as Athletic look to end a poor run of results.

Latics boss puts trust in Brooke and Reid

NEW-LOOK strike duo Ryan Brooke and Reuben Reid are lean, mean and ready to finally get Athletic some goals.

That is the belief of manager Paul Dickov, who is set to partner the pair in attack for the second consecutive game at Colchester United’s Weston Homes Community Stadium tonight.

Brooke got a valuable 70 minutes under his belt against Brighton on Saturday for the first time in a season badly affected by an ankle injury picked up before it had even begun. It was his first starting role in 2010-11.

And Reid was also buoyed by a positive run-out in that Boundary Park defeat, the striker having shed some excess weight he brought with him from West Brom.

With Warren Feeney now away with Northern Ireland for two matches — tonight, as well as Monday’s home televised npower League One clash with Tranmere — the only other readily available centre-forward option is Oumare Tounkara.

And Dickov explained his reasons behind the improved status in the pecking order of Brooke and Reid just as Athletic are trying to better a woeful record of two goals scored in the past eight matches.

“Ryan has taken a long time to recover from his ankle injury,” said Dickov. “It was a nasty, nasty one he had.

“Similarly to Tarky (James Tarkowski) and other players who have been out for a while, you have to monitor them and try to find the right time to put them in.

“In the last couple of weeks, Brookey has looked sharp and has been back to the Brookey he was pre-season.

“Reuben wasn’t fit enough when he came here, it is that simple.

“People looking at him could see that. He has been on a programme with us, training with everybody else and doing bits on his own.

“We have got nine games left and I brought Reuben in to play.

“I know what he can do. He scored goals at Walsall earlier on in the season and we just needed him to get up to the fitness levels we expect our players to be at.”

Dickov also revealed that he is keen to field more youngsters between now and the end of the season.

Carl Winchester and Kirk Millar are both waiting in the wings, with fellow youth team product Tarkowski — set to be rested in favour of Jean-Yves Mvoto tonight — having led the way with impressive displays in the last two fixtures.

“Carl Winchester is going to be pushing,” said Dickov, who has lost West Brom midfielder Sam Mantom after his loan period expired.

“We want to get the kids involved in the last few games of the season.

“Tarky has shown that if you are good enough, you are old enough.”