Prove you're good enough to start

Last updated : 06 July 2004 By The Chairman

When Athletic kick off the new season at Kenilworth Road, Brian Talbot expects to have his best 11 players starting the game. New recruits Mark Arber and Rodney Jack will gain automatic starting places in the team if they remain injury free during the pre-season build up.

Talbot said, “I see Jack as a utility player who can play on either side or through the middle. He’s a good addition the squad. I have in my mind the team who will start against Luton on August 7th. Obviously it could change between then and now, but I know pretty much what I want to do. It’s up to every player to push themselves forward before the league season starts and prove to me that they deserve a place. They will all get a chance in our first couple of friendly games — I’ve got a squad of 21 or 22 and everybody will play at least 45 minutes.”

Athletic will visit Stalybridge next Tuesday and Nantwich on the following Saturday although Wes Wilkinson (pictured) is doubtful for the game against his old club as he is still recovering from a knee cartilage operation last April.