Fight for a place, says Lee

OLD FOE: Huddersfield boss Mark Robins

ATHLETIC boss Lee Johnson has issued a “make me select you” challenge to his players.

Championship side Huddersfield are the visitors to Boundary Park tomorrow (3pm) for Athletic’s final friendly before the real action gets underway at Stevenage next weekend.

And with the Sky Bet League One opener in mind, Johnson can be expected to select a team close to that which will kick off the new season.

But he hinted that places are still up for grabs: “I might choose a team which is likely to start against Stevenage. “But I am learning all the time about the lads. It’s a new group and a lot can happen.

“I’m excited about it. I trust my group of players and just want to support so they can deliver what they should on the pitch

“I am really looking forward to the match against Huddersfield. That is where we aspire to be, in the Championship, so it will be good to test ourselves against this calibre of opposition.

“It’s a good game to have as they will play a strong side. Hopefully, our supporters will get used to the way we are playing. They have been great.”

Huddersfield warmed up for tomorrow’s friendly with a midweek fixture against La Liga outfit Real Betis at the John Smith’s Stadium. They lost 4-2.

Huddersfield are managed by Chadderton-raised Mark Robins, who has been a jinx to Athletic over the years.

As a player he was a regular goalscorer against Athletic and netted the winner for Manchester United in an FA Cup semi-final replay in 1990.