Selection poser for Dickov

CARL Winchester is back in the Athletic squad after a spell with Northern Ireland under-21s.

OPTIONS aplenty greet Paul Dickov when it comes to selecting a team for tomorrow’s home clash with Stevenage (3pm kick-off).

The one problem position at left-back seems set to be filled by David Mellor, a straight swap for the suspended Bradley Diallo and injured Paul Black.

The availability of centre-back Nathan Clarke following the fixture against parent club Huddersfield is sure to have had fellow defenders Zander Diamond and Jean-Yves Mvoto on their toes in training this week, while the versatile Carl Winchester’s return from international duty with Northern Ireland under-21s also gives Dickov a helping hand.

Substitute striker Matt Smith scored twice in the reserves’ 5-2 win at Wrexham earlier this week, as did forgotten man Ryan Brooke.

And with captain Dean Furman — said to be “flying” in training following knee surgery, though he won’t be rushed into a return — and Josh Parker also waiting in the wings for comebacks in the medium term, the Athletic manager is pleased with the class of player he has at his disposal in what remains a tight squad.

“We wanted to have more quality in depth than we had last year and slowly, but surely we are getting that,” said Dickov, whose side could step into the top half of npower League One with three points at Boundary Park.

“It is disappointing having Josh Parker, Dean Furman and Paul Black out. But when those three come back, there really will be competition for places.

“The boys who are playing now know that when they go out there, they have to perform.

“On the flip side, it is disappointing from mine and my staff’s point of view I haven’t been able to pick the same XI in two consecutive games. With a lot of players, they need a bit of time to gel.”

Shefki Kuqi’s high-dive celebration was a talking point against Huddersfield and Dickov hopes it will be in evidence again tomorrow.

“I have seen him do it loads of times and it still baffles me how he doesn’t get injured,” Dickov added. “He has assured me that it is fine.

“As long as we keep seeing it, I am not going to be moaning.”

Athletic (probable, 4-4-2): Cisak; Lee, Diamond, Mvoto, Mellor; Morais, Adeyemi, Wesolowski, Taylor; Kuqi, Reid. Subs (from): Gerrard, Clarke, Tarkowski, Winchester, Smith, Brooke, Lund, Millar.

Npower League One fixtures —

Tonight: Preston v Yeovil (7.45pm).

Tomorrow: Bournemouth v Chesterfield; Bury v Rochdale; Carlisle v Hartlepool; Charlton v Exeter; Colchester v Leyton Orient; Huddersfield v Tranmere; Notts County v Walsall; Oldham v Stevenage; Scunthorpe v Sheffield Utd; Sheffield Wed v MK Dons; Wycombe v Brentford.