Blades test a big thrill for Dickov

MATT SMITH... relishing the challenge.

PAUL Dickov isn't fazed by his side's tough start to the new npower League One season.

Sheffield United, back in the game's third tier for the first time since 1988 following relegation, visit Boundary Park tomorrow (3pm) in an attractive season-opener.

Well-fancied to go straight back to the Championship under new boss Danny Wilson, the Blades are set to bring a horde of fans with them across the Pennines.

Dickov hopes that there will be enough Athletic supporters present to drown out South Yorkshire voices.

And despite a difficult-looking set of early fixtures also including early visits to relegated outfit Scunthorpe and Colchester and a home game against beaten play-off finalists Huddersfield, he believes his tight squad has been well prepared for such stiff tests.

"Sheffield United will bring a lot of fans over and, hopefully, we will have a lot here too," said Dickov, starting his second season in management without suspended winger Filipe Morais.

"They are one of the favourites to go straight back up and rightly so.

"Danny is a fantastic manager and I am sure he will have his players up for the game.

"You have to play everyone at some point, so why not face the biggest sides at the start? When we are at our strongest and fittest we are a match for anyone, as we showed last year.

"Size-wise, our squad isn't the biggest, but it is stronger this year. I believe that will show.

"I keep saying to the players that they also have to learn from experiences of last year. They will be better for it.

"In the time I've been back, myself and the rest of the coaching staff have noticed players are taking on board more naturally what we want them to do.

"That comes with the experience of us being here last year.

"The players have come back fit and they have got better game-by-game in pre-season. It will be a tough test for us tomorrow, but we are more than ready for it."

Rookie striker Matt Smith may appear set for his first professional league game after consistently starting in pre-season, but he isn't counting his chickens.

"It is a massive game and to have it first up is fantastic," said the 21-year-old university graduate.

United have strengthened in the summer by signing left-back Lescinel Jean-Francois from Swindon, winger Ryan Flynn from Falkirk and two players who used to ply their trade at Boundary Park.

Athletic youth team coach Tony Philliskirk - himself an ex-Blade, starting his career at Bramall Lane – will be an interested observer now that son Danny, a former youth team player with Athletic before his big move to Chelsea, is on United's books.

And striker Chris Porter is likely to get a mixed reception from home fans.

The 27-year-old, who signed from Derby in the close season, scored 28 goals for Athletic in 66 league games before controversially moving to Motherwell, the cross-border nature of the deal depriving his former club of any compensation.