Big problem

ATHLETIC’S defenders may have to adopt lumberjack roles to be ‘ok’ against another of the game’s strong men tomorrow.

After facing up to man-mountain George Elokobi at Molineux on Tuesday night, at Priestfield the task is to try and get the better of Adebayo Akinfenwa.

No other player in the world can match Akinfenwa’s strength rating of 97 on the new FIFA 14 video game, an accolade he has spoken of his pride in.

Athletic manager Lee Johnson knows all about the ex-Swansea striker.

Akinfenwa, a friend of Johnson’s big pal Darren Way of Yeovil, used to be managed by his dad Gary Johnson at Northampton. And Johnson Jnr has also had the pleasure of coming up against him on the field in Sky Bet League One.

James Tarkowski will have to be watchful, Athletic’s boss warns — or else take some timber-felling gear with him out onto the pitch.

“I know ‘Bayo’ very well. He is not fat, at all — he is a big, big boy,” said Johnson, who has experienced defeat only twice in his last 10 matches in charge. “One of his legs is probably as big as my torso and it is sheer power.

“That power takes time to get going but when it does, it is hard to stop.

“He is a lovely lad and I like him as a player, too.

“I played against him a lot when he was at Swansea. He is a proper handful and if he pins you in the box, you are in trouble.

“I have felt the power a few times. It is like trying to wrestle a tree.”

Akinfenwa (31), a one-in-three marksman across his long career, played in last season’s League Two play-off final for Northampton before making his switch to Gillingham, where he has netted twice so far this season.

As well as getting on top of Akinfenwa’s game tomorrow, Johnson wants his team as a whole to play on their own terms against a physical outfit.

Gillingham surprisingly replaced Martin Allen — described by admirer Johnson as a “humble extrovert” — with Peter Taylor this season and though the long-ball tendencies have been watered down a little, Athletic’s manager is still expecting a difficult battle.

“They have changed their style a bit and Peter Taylor is not quite as direct in his nature,” Johnson added.

“They do still play some direct football, though, which is fine and we have to deal with it.

“On a tight pitch, it is hard. They have some big guys, solid players.

“They have had decent results at home and they are above us in the league.

“It is about imposing ourselves on them. If we are imposed upon, we will get beaten.

“We need to go there and make sure we get a result, as we don’t want anyone to get away from us. We want to claw teams back.”

Gillingham, promoted last season from League Two as champions, are currently

stationed in 14th place in League One, three points and four places above Athletic having played a game more.