Weso a key man in Latics’ relegation dogfight

POOCH POWER: James Wesowloski with his faithful dog, Sydney.

FITTER than ever and primed to down his former club, it’s anything but a dog’s life for James Wesolowski at the moment — despite Athletic’s place at the tail end of the league.

Nothing would please the Boundary Park bounder more than a goal in successive home matches - this time against a Peterborough side managed by the man who let him go from London Road.

No bitterness resides in the 26 year old, who admitted it was a surprise when he was told by Darren Ferguson he wouldn’t be kept on following promotion to the Championship four seasons ago.

“It was a bit of a shock,” said Wesolowski of his release by Posh, which culminated in him signing for former Athletic manager Paul Dickov near the start of the 2011-12 campaign.

“Darren said I wasn’t part of his plans. It was disappointing, but I respected the honesty. I had some good times there..

“They are a similar side now to back then — they score a lot of goals, but also concede plenty. It will be a tough one but we know if we attack them, there are places in their team that are weaker than others.”

Wesolowski, who brought his dog Sydney into the club this week, hopes he can sniff out a few more goals between now and the end of the season to help bring to an end Athletic’s dog’s dinner of a run of results.

“This season, I have been fitter than I ever have been and when that is the case, you find more opportunities to score come your way. I just need to make sure that when they arrive, they go into the back of the net.”

Wesolowski threw off his protective mask during the match at Vale Park and won’t be wearing it again tomorrow, when Athletic go in search of a second win in 10 League One outings.

“I won’t need it this weekend, so hopefully that’s the end of that.”