Boss considers fresh legs for Swindon visit

JOHN Sheridan is considering giving fringe players the chance to add legs to the team against Swindon.

Saturday’s home game is the side’s seventh outing in 22 days. And with Athletic’s energy-sapping playing surface a cause for concern, Sheridan could rest the weariest of his troops as he hunts a win to put Athletic clsoer to safety.

Aaron Amadi-Holloway came off against Port Vale late on with a recurrence of his ankle injury and Matt Palmer was hobbling towards the end of that 1-1 home draw. It remains to be seen whether Jonathan Forte will be ready to feature again.

Up front Jake Cassidy and Rhys Murphy will hope to get places as Athletic hunt for goals.

“I could throw in one or two who are fresh who have not been playing as much. It is something I will have to look at,” said Sheridan, who is on a seven-game unbeaten run.

“We have to keep our heads up. We know the home games are important and we have to try to take three points from each one. We stay positive and look at the big game on Saturday. If we win, then I won’t be too disappointed with the point from Port Vale.”

Only 13 games remain in the season, with four of them at home this month.

“At the end of the day I know what the circumstances are and what we need to do. If I have to change the way I want to play then I will have to do it.

“The pitch is soft underneath and difficult. With the weather, the pitch will probably be worse on Saturday.

“But I really don’t want to make a huge issue of the pitch. We have to play on it, so we get on with it.”