Johnson keen to bring back target man Jabo

JABO IBEHRE . . . “does a certain job for us,” says Athletic boss Lee Johnson.

JABO Ibehre could yet return to Athletic to boost the club’s front-line options.

The strong striker went back to parent club Colchester this week at the end of his loan term - having scored in a man-of-the-match performance against Doncaster.

Athletic manager Lee Johnson is keen to bring back the target man, provided the terms are right — either on another loan or permanently.

“He does a certain job for us,” said Johnson, who struggles to find players the club can afford, despite a thin squad

He talked with Ipswich manager Mick McCarthy about striker Balint Bajner, only to see Sky Bet League One rivals Notts County “blow us out of the water” with a superior offer.

Athletic’s manager continues to work hard to bring in new players, but at the moment is also finding it tough to find cover for Joseph Mills.

The left-back starts a three-game ban at Fleetwood on Saturday and it could be that George Elokobi moves out wide to fill the gap, with Timothee Dieng stepping in at centre-back.

As for player movement out of the club, Johnson said that Athletic have so far fielded only one

tentative enquiry during this transfer window.

“It isn’t one I expect to happen,” he added.