Setting the standard

LEADING from the front: Athletic striker Reuben Reid.

REUBEN Reid has been hailed as a shining light by his manager.

Athletic’s five-goal top scorer put in a man-of-the-match effort against Exeter City and was unlucky not to find the net at least once.

Aiming to add to his tally in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy second-round tie at Scunthorpe tonight (7pm kick-off), 23-year-old Reid is one player who appears certain to start as Paul Dickov tries to get a first cup win under his belt as a boss.

“When the lads have a day off, Reuben is in here looking after his body,” said Dickov, bidding to arrest the club’s run of NINE consecutive exits from knock-out competition.

“I think looking at him, he is in much better shape.

“Certainly with the performances he is putting in, he is dragging the team along at times with his work-rate and decisions on the ball.

“I felt for him on Saturday, as with the work he put in on and off the ball, he deserved a goal.

“He is still a young boy. What we are trying to do is look after him and get the best out of him and slowly but surely we are seeing that.”

Reid could well be partnered by Matt Smith up front at Glanford Park, with Shefki Kuqi given a rest on the substitutes’ bench.

Filipe Morais is also pushing for a start, as Dickov looks to plot a way into the quarter-finals of the Northern section of the draw against an outfit Athletic have already beaten once this season.

“Knowing Alan Knill (Scunthorpe’s manager), he will want to put one back over on us,” Dickov added.

“They have won back-to-back league games, playing very well too, so it is going to be hard for us.

“It is not so long ago they were a Championship team. But we have to take the confidence of knowing we have already been there once this season and won.

“It is five games to Wembley and people say you shouldn’t say things like that, but it is there.

“We will be going all-out to win and get into the next round.

“I hate the fact the club has not won a cup game for a long time. It really grates on me.

“I have been lucky enough as a player to have been to Wembley a couple of times.

“It is the best experience you will ever have as a footballer.

“I have seen my players working hard every day, giving it everything they have got, and I want them to experience that.

“On the flipside, it is big for the club financially and for the fans to go there. It could give us a massive boost.”

Jean-Yves Mvoto is unlikely to be risked tonight, his slightly swollen ankle being the same one that was operated upon last season.

There is good news, though, with Dean Furman (knee) and Paul Black (groin) set to return in a practise match this week.

“We have got a game arranged this week which Dean and Paul are going to play in, though Josh Parker (knee) is possibly going to miss out."

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