Big day at Wembley would be great - Johnson

EYES ON THE PRIZE: Athletic manager Lee Johnson says a Wembley appearance would galvanise the club

THE tantalising prospect of a dream Wembley final will be on Athletic players’ minds at SportsDirect.com Park tonight.

Lee Johnson’s side welcomes Lancashire rival Preston North End for a Johnstone’s Paint Trophy northern section quarter-final tie - with plenty at stake.

An away trip to Doncaster or Notts County awaits tonight’s winner, by which stage the home of English football would potentially be only three games away.

Johnson would love to repay the fans’ noisy support with a dream trip south on March 22.

Johnson said: “Wembley: wouldn’t it be great to take everyone down there?

“This club needs something like that to help galvanise it a bit more, so we want to produce tonight.

“It’s a tough game, but with the right attitude and the right tempo to our play we’ve got a good chance of getting a result.

“Both clubs will feel they’ve got a chance of progressing, but it will be difficult for both teams.”

Johnson will make changes for the clash, which kicks-off at 7.45pm. Front man Jabo Ibehre is out through suspension while loan midfielder Daniel Johnson is cup-tied.

Brian Wilson is available again but club captain Adam Lockwood has been ruled out with another knee injury.

When Adam played in the reserves game last week he felt something on the right side of his knee. He trained for a couple of days but it’s best if he goes for a scan.”