Latics await Evina verdict

Cedric Evina

Left-back problems give boss Dickov a headache
ATHLETIC are awaiting the news on Cedric Evina's ankle injury ahead of the trip to face Swindon Town on Saturday.

The left-back hobbled off the Boundary Park field midway through the first half against Walsall on Monday and has had a scan to determine the extent of the damage.

With fellow left-back Paul Black (abdomen) not expected to be rushed back before the end of the season following his recent minor surgery, Evina's likely absence from the squad this weekend leaves manager Paul Dickov with only one senior player in Aidan White who is recognised in that position.

Kieran Lee (hamstring), Reuben Hazell (knee), Ryan Brooke (ankle) and Oumare Tounkara (ankle) are all carrying injuries at the moment, severely restricting Dickov's options ahead of the final two matches of his first npower League One season in charge of the club.


A SCRATCH Athletic line-up performed well in losing 4-3 at local rivals Rochdale in the Manchester Senior Cup — despite playing the game four hours earlier than expected.
A mix-up over the kick-off time for the clash meant that while Rochdale were preparing for a 2pm start, Lee Duxbury's charges were readying themselves for a 7pm kick-off at Ashton United.

In the end, the game began at 3pm and Athletic played a line-up featuring only one professional on the club's books — Phil McGrath, who is on the comeback trail after an operation to repair a damaged knee at the start of the season — while physio Jon Guy and Duxbury himself were included in the squad to make up the numbers.

Athletic started the game slowly and found themselves 3-0 down after only 20 minutes.

Thanks to a hat-trick from a trialist striker whose identity the club are keeping under wraps, a 4-3 loss was regarded as a positive result against a more experienced Dale line-up, especially given the circumstances.


ATHLETIC hold their annual presentation dinner tonight at The White Hart, Lydgate.
Awards up for grabs include the players' player of the year, the young players' player of the year, community player of the year, the fans' player of the year and the supporter of the year.