Boss’s blast

SIDNEY SCHMELTZ: the Dutch winger is facing an uncertain future at Boundary Park.

1 More Image(s) In Gallery

Johnson tells players ‘shape-up or move on’

EXASPERATED Lee Johnson admitted he came close to taking the extraordinary step of making all THREE of his substitutions in the opening stages against Colchester.

Athletic’s manager felt his side was lifeless from the start - and they ultimately slipped to a 2-0 loss in their worst display of the season at Boundary Park. Johnson also produced the threat of transfer-listing non-performing players.

And the first man out of the door could be Sidney Schmeltz, who was not even in the matchday squad on Saturday. That was despite Johnson naming a bench that included three players — Wade Joyce, Danny Gosset and John Pritchard — who had not previously played for the first team all season.

“I very nearly made three subs after 10 minutes and that would have been ridiculous,” Johnson added. “I would have been hounded. But I just felt we didn’t have any energy out there. I wanted people who would run around and put their foot in.

“It is going to be a nasty couple of weeks for me because I can’t have that and I won’t have that.

“I don’t care who it is. With that sort of performance they will be (transfer) listed. I don’t like it and I won’t move forward with it.”

Pritchard (18) made his debut and hit the angle of post and crossbar with one shot. But the current paucity of resources due to injuries and suspensions was illustrated by the inexperience of the potential replacements.

Charlie MacDonald, James Dayton and James Wesolowski are all injured and defender Genseric Kusunga, too, appears to be struggling to make the Sheffield United trip on Boxing Day.

“I need a side which is going to compete in the top six. You don’t with a side that showed the level of desire we showed against Colchester.”

Schmeltz’s days at the club appear numbered. The Dutch winger has only been with Athletic for six months after signing a two-year deal in the summer. But after 22 appearances Schmeltz has fallen out of favour completely.

“We are talking to him,” said Johnson. “He is a good player, but it might be better for him and for us if we part company.”