Latics facing up to extended absence of star Furman

CALL OF DUTY: South African international Dean Furman.

DEAN Furman’s likely participation in the African Cup of Nations early next year will cause Athletic a major headache.

The captain has impressed enough in his first two international appearances against Brazil and Mozambique to suggest he is now an integral part of coach Gordon Igesund’s thinking when South Africa hosts the continental tournament from January 19-February 10.

“South Africa have a lot of players who are technically gifted,” said Cape Town journalist Joe Crann, “but as a team, they are maybe not as tactically good as they should be.

“Dean is clearly someone who does the basics well and the team needs someone to do that job in midfield.”

If selected — a great honour for both player and club — a South Africa run to the final of AFCON, and FIFA’s rule that players must be released 14 days before the tournament, would mean Furman missing six Athletic games.

And even that may not be the end of the problem for manager Paul Dickov.

Furman is all but ensured a spot in the Bafana squad to face Poland on October 12, which will probably rule him out of the game at Sheffield United the following day.

He could also be called up for a friendly with current African champions Zambia on November 14.

Even after the African Cup of Nations is over, South Africa’s home World Cup qualifier against the Central African Republic on March 23 would cast doubt over the 24 year old’s chances of featuring the same day at Shrewsbury.

The one bit of good news is that possible Northern Ireland under-21 duty for both Carl Winchester and Kirk Millar will allow Athletic to postpone matches, as they did against Doncaster on Saturday.

Out of contract at the end of the season, the national call-up and performances of Furman have propelled him into a different group career-wise, with clubs all over Europe likely to be watching AFCON very carefully for new talent...




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