Dickov ponders Shefki sidekick

GOAL MACHINE: Shefki Kuqi has five in eight for Athletic.

Latics boss hunts Reid replacement
PAUL Dickov has taken up a new role — as an “F-Factor” judge.

Reuben Reid's thigh injury prevents Athletic's manager from maintaining a front partnership that has worked productively in tandem ever since flying Finnish forward Shefki Kuqi arrived at Boundary Park back on deadline day.

The eight unbroken games in which the Reid-Kuqi duo has featured have brought with them promising form of four victories, two draws and a pair of defeats.

With Kuqi minus his regular sidekick, Dickov has not been afforded the luxury of scouring the loan market for a temporary fix. The budget simply won't allow for it.

Instead, he now sits as head of the judging panel to find the perfect candidate to fill the gap from within his existing squad, starting at Tranmere Rovers tomorrow.

"If I want to bring Dean (Furman) back in, Tom Adeyemi has played off the front man before," said Dickov, referring to the return to fitness of his captain.

"There are lots of options within the squad.

"As we have seen, we have suffered with injuries this season and have already had to use them.

"But we have players here who can play in a number of positions, which is one of the things we wanted during the summer."

Filipe Morais came on as a first-half replacement for Reid in the MK Dons game on Monday night and operated in a role just off Kuqi.

Whether that particular set-up is reprised at Prenton Park is open to question. As for the

overall effort of his determined side, though, even on a sodden pitch, Dickov wants plenty more of the same.

"It wasn't the best of conditions but you have to play to them and I thought we were excellent," he added.

"I was a little bit disappointed, watching and reading things in certain places afterwards. I don't think we got the credit we deserved. It was a case of MK Dons not playing well.

"But they didn't play well because we didn't let them play well.

"We are excited about the group of players we have got.

"But I am not going to get carried away. We have seen too many times already this season that it comes back and bites you in the bum."

Two Dale Stephens goals on the opening day of last season, Dickov's first in charge of Athletic, mean that the manager goes to the Wirral with happy memories of three points won.

At that stage of his managerial career, everything was a breeze. Rovers' excellent effort in nearly toppling Charlton last week — the game at The Valley finished 1-1 — provided proof if it were needed that Athletic can't expect anything to fall into their lap tomorrow.

"It will be good to go back but it will be a tough, tough game," Dickov said.

"Les has really got them up for it with some fantastic results already this season.

"They are a team that is playing with a lot of confidence.

"They have good players there who work hard for each other and if you have that, you always have a chance of picking up results.

"They went to Charlton last week and should have beaten them — and that is not me playing mind games with people, they should have won.

"That should tell us what a hard game we have in store.

"Enoch Showunmi plays right on top of your centre-backs and Jose Baxter drops off and causes you problems.

"We dealt with similar against MK Dons with the way they play, so it is

important our distances are right again."



KUQI AND WHO?


The candidates to join Shefki in attack, along with their chances of doing so at Prenton Park —



Filipe Morais: Came on in Reuben Reid's place to good effect against MK Dons. Final ball wasn't quite there, but behind a main striker is his favoured position. 8/10

Matt Smith: Unlucky not to score his third of the season at Exeter, the educated big man was employed to protect a lead at Scunthorpe and didn't get a look-in against MK Dons. 7/10

Chris Taylor: Enjoyed himself in the televised win and looked good causing uncertainty cutting in from the left wing. Does Dickov risk moving Athletic's wizard of dribble? 7/10

Robbie Simpson: Missed out with a hamstring strain at Scunthorpe but back with a vengeance on Monday, causing problems for the Dons with clever movement. Yet to play as an out-and-out front man under Dickov. 6/10

Tom Adeyemi: Has played a support role to a main striker before. But even though the on-loan Norwich prospect will have a taste for goals now he has bagged his first for Athletic, pushing him upfield would deny the midfield a useful bundle of athletic energy. 4/10

Jean-Yves Mvoto or David Mellor: Both have played upfield before. But there is more chance of Paul Dickov himself starting there with Shefki tomorrow. 1/10