Holden considered starting role for Lockwood

DEAN Holden wanted to add a large injection of leadership to Athletic’s ailing back-line by bringing in Adam Lockwood against Preston — but was told the centre-back’s career could end up ruined if he played.

Lockwood, Holden’s temporary assistant manager, turned out for the final seven minutes in the 4-0 defeat by Preston.

Last season Lockwood played a major role in a 10-match unbeaten run. But the former Doncaster man has missed the whole of this season with foot and then knee injuries.

“I had a chat with Locky on Thursday, asking could he come in,” Holden said. “But talking to him and Craig Schofield (club physio), we didn’t feel it was a risk worth taking. He could have gone back to square one.”

That left Holden with only 12 senior players for the starting line-up. His options may increase by one or two tomorrow, with top scorer Jonathan Forte possibly available.

Carl Winchester was being assessed today, but Vale Park arrives probably too soon for much-missed striker Conor Wilkinson.

Jacob Mellis is out for two weeks, while Joseph Mills, George Elokobi and Amari Morgan-Smith will all be missing for another five weeks.

Whoever plays tomorrow for Athletic – now 13th, five points off the play-offs; only eight clear of the relegation zone – Holden wants more than the weak effort against Preston.

“I’m not going to give excuses,” he added. “I was offered the job on Wednesday morning and was told to do the best I could.

“Would we have done better against Preston if we had all of our players? You can only do your best with what you have got.

“There were things happening in the second half where bad decisions were being made. You can’t press pause and go on there and fix it.

“Whether I am the manager or the first-team coach, my job is to pick the lads up and go to Port Vale and give it a crack.”