Go for it!

ATHLETIC manager Paul Dickov has called on his young band of players to give it absolutely everything against Liverpool.

After the considerable coup of securing Jose Baxter to a long-term deal, there appears to be little left in the pot to bring in new blood to a squad missing the ability and know-how of Dean Furman and pace of Cristian Montano.

With Athletic short of goals, a striker would be top of Dickov’s wish list in an ideal world.

The Athletic boss said there is no scope “at the minute” for reinforcements. With that in mind, he has called on the current crop of players to raise their performance levels.

That process starts with the visit of the Premier League giants on Sunday in the FA Cup, fourth round.

And it must also continue afterwards, if the club is to arrest their alarming slump of having gained only one point from the last 24 in npower League One.

“I have said it all along,” said under-pressure Dickov. “You go with what you have got.

“It is no secret that if you look at the average age of the group, we are short on experience and on numbers.

“But these kids are getting experience every week.

“Liverpool is a great day for everybody on Sunday but in some ways you wish it wasn’t happening; the league is your bread and butter.”