Smash hit

JOSE Baxter, celebrating his goal against Colchester on Easter Monday, has found net 14 times for Athletic this season.

Baxter among top 25 of Football League’s finest
JOSE Baxter has been named one of the top talents in the Football League.

Athletic’s attacking talisman, whose 14th strike of the season gained a point for the club against Colchester, made it into the top 25 in a survey conducted by Four Four Two magazine.

Baxter, who signed a two and a half year contract with Athletic at the start of the year, is ranked above seasoned Championship players such as striker Marlon King of Birmingham, Brighton's ex-Manchester United goalkeeper Tomasz Kuszczak and midfield schemer Peter Whittingham of Cardiff.

Athletic manager Lee Johnson — who once also featured in the same player rankings — isn’t surprised by Baxter’s 25th place.

“Jose is a top player and it is well deserved,” Johnson said.

Baxter has scored against five of the seven clubs Athletic still face to the end of the season.

As for Saturday’s crunch home game with Carlisle, Johnson warned that the visitors to Boundary Park will be determined to win and seal their safety from relegation.

“They will see this one as a massive game,” he added.

mattchambers@oldham-chronicle.co.uk