Tar very much!

HEAD MASTER: James Tarkowski connects powerfully to put Athletic in front at Bootham Crescent.

Defender a big hit with Latics manager
JAMES Tarkowski is making a big play to start the season as first-choice centre-back for Athletic, after again impressing his manager at York.

Heading home to register the first goal in a 2-0 win at York City on Saturday, the 19-year-old looked strong and composed in possession and was the only man to play the full 90 minutes for the visitors at Bootham Crescent.

Tarkowski's partnership with Jean-Yves Mvoto again looked solid and barely gave the npower League Two side's forwards a sniff of goal on the way to a clean sheet.

Though manager Paul Dickov is on the hunt for a new defender to add to a thin squad, in this kind of form it is becoming increasingly difficult to see Tarkowski being displaced by anyone when Sheffield Wednesday visit Boundary Park in three weeks' time.

"Tarky is the one who has come back looking really mature and confident,” said Dickov.

On Athletic’s promising performance itself at York, Athletic's manager declared himself satisfied.

"For the first 10 to 15 minutes our shape wasn't the best but once the players worked it out, we looked quite comfortable," he said.

Robbie Simpson, who scored Athletic's second goal, retired hurt at half-time.The forward injured his heavily-bandaged right thumb, a bone of which was chipped in a car door accident prior to the Portugal trip.



ATHLETIC are still running the rule over three un-named triallists as squad strengthening work continues.



The trio, all of whom played at Mossley prior to the Portugal trip, entered the York game in the second half.

Manager Paul Dickov wouldn't be drawn on when decisions would be made on the three — a left-back, right-winger and striker — but did say that he is trying to bring new players to the club.






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