Latics seeking Mvoto cover

JEAN-YVES MVOTO: two yellow cards against Scunthorpe in the midweek 2-1 victory.

Dickov on the look-out for loan signing
ATHLETIC have sent out an SOS for a new defender.

Jean-Yves Mvoto was controversially sent off during the 2-1 win at Scunthorpe on Tuesday, with his two yellow cards — the first of which was strongly contested by manager Paul Dickov — incurring an automatic ban against which the club cannot appeal.

With James Tarkowski still recovering from a foot injury, the enforced absence of the French defender leaves only Matthew Carr as an available, recognised centre-back possibility along with Zander Diamond.

Dickov is hoping to bring in a new centre-back on an emergency loan for a month as cover, in time to take on Rochdale at Boundary Park on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Athletic hope to discover today how long captain Dean Furman will be absent for.

The midfielder went under the surgeon's knife yesterday and had cartilage damage to his knee repaired, in order to prevent further possible problems in the future.

Furman tweeted last night that "the op went well" and the hope is the skipper will be absent for weeks, rather than months.

A young Athletic reserves side went down 3-0 to Manchester City in the Manchester Senior Cup at Hyde last night.

Dedryck Boyata was among the names in City's Elite Development Squad line-up, with goals coming from Joan Romain in the first half and Jose D'Angelo and Ivan Dzoni after the interval.

Reserves: Connor, Jones, Carr, Parkes, Hill, Millar, Burns, Fitzgerald, Laird, Brooke, Riley. Subs: Edwards, Simpson, Gosset, McIntosh, Belezika.