Lee’s sights on Wembley Way

ON THE MEND . . . Genseric Kusunga is making a steady recovery from a hamstring injury.

ATHLETIC may have a sniff of Wembley in their nostrils - but they’re not alone in that ambition.

After being paired with Notts County at home in the northern quarter-finals of the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy, a big day out at the home of football is only three ties away for Lee Johnson’s men.

And while the manager admits he would have preferred a local derby, he’ll happily take the home advantage of a game at Boundary Park at a stage in the competition when everyone still involved has thoughts of ultimate success.

“I wanted to get Rochdale,” Johnson said, “but to be fair there are no easy games. We have to be grateful for getting the home tie. With home advantage, hopefully it will turn out to be a good draw for us.”

The tie against the Magpies — who would have been in action at Boundary Park at the weekend but for international call-ups and a consequent postponement — is to take place on the week starting Monday, November 11.

Notts County are one of three of Sky Bet League One’s bigger clubs occupying the bottom three positions in the table.

Results at the weekend saw Athletic slip to 19th, but with a game in hand, Johnson sees opportunity rather than danger.

“I was actually really pleased with the results,” said Johnson, who took in Rochdale’s 3-0 home win over Newport on Saturday. “It has kept the sides above us close.”

Johnson has been boosted by the news that Genseric Kusunga’s tight hamstring is not causing the defender too many problems, leaving him able to again fill the right-back role for the visit of Carlisle to Boundary Park on Saturday.

Matteo Lanzoni and Connor Brown are still out but other than that, there is a clean bill of health among the squad.