Ronnie Moore is expected to make defensive changes to the team that will take on Chasetown in Sunday's live televised game. Gareth Owen (pictured) looks the favourite to step straight into the limelight with a first team return after fighting back from a badly cut knee. Owen has been out of action for a month but came through the 5-1 reserve hammering of Manchester United unscathed. After conceding seven goals in the last two outings Moore said, “Our defending was absolutely awful against Scunthorpe at the weekend. Something has got to give and in some ways I’d like to change the lot of them, although that in itself would be a dangerous thing to do. Our injuries mean any change will be on a smaller scale, but I very much doubt we’ll have the same back four. I’ve got a few different things to look at because some of our defenders are quite versatile.”
Stefan Stam will definitely not be in the running as his comeback took a huge setback after he limped out of the reserve game. Athletic are hoping that he is not in for another serious knee problem that has kept him out of action for the last couple of months.