Show me you’re worth it

PAUL Dickov: young players need to show they’re ready for the first team.

Dickov’s challenge to young guns
Athletic manager Paul Dickov has thrown down the gauntlet to his young fringe players.

He has insisted they must shape up if they want a place in the first team.

Dickov says former Newcastle prospect, teenage striker Dan Taylor, isn’t yet ready for the first team and hasn’t featured since the home draw with Walsall in August. And despite fan chatter about Carl Winchester, Kirk Millar and Connor Hughes, Dickov is emphatic he won’t hand out starting places by default.

“Dan knows he is not quite there yet,” said Athletic’s manager. “By his own admission, he knows he needs to get his head down and work a little bit harder.

“I know there is a clamour to put (the younger players) in. But they have show us in training they are ready for it — and when they get the chance, take it.”

Crewe visit Boundary Park tomorrow looking to avenge the 2-0 defeat at Gresty Road earlier this season.

James Tarkowski, who scored in that game, is absent with a foot injury, and David Mellor is ill and won’t play. Jean-Yves Mvoto will sit out a one-game ban, while Robbie Simpson has two more game bans to serve.

Matt Smith and Youssouf Mchangama may be ready following treatment for injuries.

“We will have to see how Matt and Youssouf are, having stitches. They will want to play, but we will have to see — they were nasty ones.”

There is optimism from Dickov regarding options come the New Year.

As well as hopes that Jose Baxter will remain, the Athletic boss says Notts Forest striker Matt Derbyshire hasn’t yet had firm offers on a move to other teams.

“We all know if Matt gets a permanent deal somewhere, he has to look after his family. If he has to go out on loan, the signs are it will be back to us. I am still hopeful.”

After Crewe, Athletic travel to face Scunthorpe on New Year’s Day.


ATHLETIC are still waiting for confirmation from the South Africa FA on Dean Furman’s availability for the FA Cup third-round tie at Forest a week tomorrow.
Furman is expected to be called up to the national squad for the African Cup of Nations and may be required to join the squad well before the tie.