Food for thought as Feeney and Brooke stake claim

ON THE SPOT... Warren Feeney scored in the 2-0 defeat of Tranmere Rovers.

RYAN Brooke and Warren Feeney gave Athletic manager Paul Dickov plenty to ponder ahead of the Charlton Athletic game by notching goals for the reserves last night.

With Filipe Morais still struggling with a hip injury — the winger hasn’t had an x-ray, but may need one soon — an attacking spot in the line-up for Saturday’s npower League One clash at Boundary Park is open.

Substitute Reuben Reid took his goal superbly in injury time at Notts County and will fancy his chances of starting with Oumare Tounkara up front in place of Morais, who sustained his injury at Meadow Lane, with Chris Taylor and Aidan White operating as wide players.

But if Dickov prefers to use Reid as an impact substitute, it could open the door for one of Brooke and Feeney — neither of whom have registered a league goal this season.

Athletic are on 50 points and seemingly safe from relegation to npower League Two.

Dickov has already said publicly that he would like to give youth its chance before the end of the season and given that safety is all but assured, that could also mean imminent first-team chances for the likes of James Tarkowski, Carl Winchester and Kirk Millar.

All three played for Lee Duxbury’s second-string at Tranmere in what was a strong Athletic line-up for the totesport.com League fixture.

Brooke notched first with a well-placed header and his effort was followed up by Feeney striking home a second-half penalty after Lewis Alessandra’s goal-bound effort was handled on the line.

The incident also saw Tranmere reduced to 10 men, but no further goals were forthcoming for the visitors, who let their foot off the gas in the game’s final quarter.

On-trial goalkeeper Robert Ambrusics produced some good stops and as well as Feeney and Winchester, Ritchie Jones impressed.

Meanwhile, Athletic have been told that Dale Stephens’ injury, which he sustained playing for Southampton on Tuesday, is not too serious.

The midfielder, on loan at the St Mary’s Stadium until the end of the season, was carried off in the first half of Saints’ 2-0 home win over Charlton on Tuesday as a precautionary measure after taking a blow on his Achilles.