Dickov to play it safe

Photo: Darren Robinson

WATCHING BRIEF: Kirk Millar (right) looks on as fellow scorer Kyle Riley is beaten to the ball in yesterday’s reserve match against Morecambe at Boundary Park.

Latics boss won’t take risks with injured players
ATHLETIC will take no unnecessary risks with Zander Diamond and Filipe Morais this weekend.

Both players have been troubled by knee injuries of late, with centre-back Diamond retiring at half-time against Stevenage two games ago.

Winger Morais was absent for that game, while the duo also missed the midweek clash at Walsall.

Manager Paul Dickov says the two players will travel tomorrow, with late decisions made on whether they are selected in the matchday squad.

“They will both do a bit or work in training today,” said Dickov, whose side face Leyton Orient on Saturday. “It will still be touch-and-go with both of them.

“With knee injuries, we have to be very careful. It is not worth them playing one game if it is going to mean them being missing for a further number of weeks.”

Dickov also said he hopes to have captain Dean Furman, whose recovery from knee cartilage surgery is going well, back in action soon. However, Josh Parker won’t return any time sooner than in two months’ time.

“With Josh, it is frustrating for him and us but we have to go by the book,” added Dickov, referring to the former QPR man’s extensive bruising to the bone around his knee.

“Without putting pressure on him, Dean is probably three weeks away.”

Athletic’s reserves yesterday made it through to the last-eight of the Lancashire Senior Cup by defeating Morecambe 2-1 at Boundary Park.

After going a goal behind at half-time through a Dan Parkinson strike, Lee Duxbury’s young side hit back after the break through strikes from Kirk Millar and Kyle Riley.

Athletic now face a quarter-final tie away to Accrington Stanley, on an as-yet unspecified date.