Dickov ponders offence force

Chris Taylor: the winger (right) is fit for tonight’s FA Cup, third-round replay against Southend.

PAUL Dickov is weighing up his front-line options, as Athletic rebuild as an attacking force following the departure of Robbie Simpson.

Though the Huddersfield forward continues to train with the club, ahead of possibly signing again early next year, the seven-goals assist man is ineligible for tonight’s big FA Cup second-round replay with Southend at Boundary Park (7.45pm kick-off).

Taking his increasingly dangerous set-pieces as well as his all-round ability into account, it appears a major loss for Athletic.

But with Chris Taylor back fit following his hamstring strain and with several options available when it comes to partnering Shefki Kuqi against the Shrimpers, Latics boss Dickov was keen to point out that the current situation was examined a long time ago.

“Robbie has been fantastic for us and everyone knows that,” said Dickov, whose side are bidding to get through tonight to a third-round clash at Liverpool.

“But we also always knew he was going back after the Sheffield Wednesday game.

“We have lots of options. We have Filipe Morais, Chris Taylor is back and fit, Luca (Scapuzzi) can play in that position and has done so before and Josh Parker has come back in for the last couple of games.

“It will be a loss for us, because Robbie has been playing really well.

“But we have options which are more than capable of winning the game for us against Southend.”

Defensively, Jean-Yves Mvoto may feature tonight.

The French centre-back hobbled off in the defeat to Sheffield Wednesday, possibly through no more than cramp, and though he now feels almost 100-per-cent fit, a scan will determine whether he can turn out.

“We are hopeful that it (the scan) will come back all-clear, which would put him in contention,” Dickov explained.

Should Mvoto not make it, Athletic have a ready-made replacement in Nathan Clarke.

As for Taylor, he has had no reaction to the injury he sustained at Bournemouth since he restarted running on Thursday.

Dickov is seeking a good start to the game as he plots another cup-tie success.

“We need to make sure we are on the front foot from the first minute, because that is when we are at our best,” he added. “We have to match them, as they are a good team.”