Reserves draw
Adams out
Beavers for loan?

As even minor strains can take two weeks to heal, Athletic are already making contingency plans to cover for his absence. Adams had begun to find his best form of the season after settling into the right wing-back position. Paul Rickers would be an obvious candidate to fill in but, if manager Andy Ritchie takes an adventurous approach, Matthew Tipton may also be an option. 

Alternatively, Scott McNiven could switch from centre-back now that Shaun Garnett is ready to make his return to senior action. Garnett played 90 minutes for the reserves last night and Ritchie said: "Although he looked a bit rusty, I thought he was commanding in the air. He will definitely be in the cup squad." Richard Graham is ready to provide another defensive bonus by recovering from the stiff back which kept him out last weekend. The problem has eased with each day and Graham should be fit enough to reclaim his place. Young midfield player Danny Walsh is also hoping to play a part against Swansea after finding the happy combination of form and fitness. 

Walsh, who earned his first senior call at the end of last season, was struggling with illness at the start of the new campaign. Blood tests revealed a viral infection, but the 21-year-old was back in the squad against Colchester and is now targeting a regular place. After Walsh starred in the reserves' 2-2 draw with Manchester City last night, Ritchie said: "He wasn't looking himself until two or three weeks ago, but he's now coming on very well."

Two-goal Shaun denies Latics reserves victory

ATHLETIC RES ..................2

MAN CITY RES................. 2

TWO goals by City starlet Shaun Wright-Phillips denied Athletic all three points last night in the Pontins League derby at Boundary Park. Eighteen-year-old Wright-Phillips struck with a tap-in and a 20-yard drive, preventing the hosts from regaining top spot in the premier division. They are instead second on goal difference. Athletic had the upper hand in a hard-fought game which featured comebacks for two experienced defenders. While Shaun Garnett came through unscathed for Athletic,City’s Kakhabor Tskhadadze’s return from a 15-month lay-off was ended by a foot injury in the 52nd minute. City’s strong side also included Lee Crooks, Terry Cooke and Michael Brown — reputedly a £600,000 target for Wigan. But Athletic edged the midfield battle thanks to useful displays by Danny Walsh and Danny Boshell. After City’s Chris Killen missed an early chance, his side went in front in the 11th minute. Cooke’s corner from the left should not have caused too many problems, but Garnett could do no more than direct it towards goal and Wright-Phillips got the merest of touches to score from a couple of yards. Athletic got back on level terms after 25 minutes with an absolute stunner from left-back Ian McLean. City’s nervy goalkeeper Richard McKinney flapped at a cross and, when the ball was half-cleared, McLean hit the sweetest of first-time volleys in off the bar from 25 yards.

Athletic should have gone ahead moments later when McKinney dropped another clanger by spilling the ball at Steve Whitehall’s feet, only to redeem himself with a block. After Whitehall went close twice and McLean almost repeated his trick, Athletic did take the lead — Boshell whipping a 41st-minute free-kick into the bottom corner from 20 yards. Whitehall wasted another opening on the hour and City made the most of their escape nine minutes later when Wright-Phillips hit the equaliser low into the corner from just outside the box.

ATHLETIC: Miskelly, Jones, McLean, Swan (Clitheroe 81), Garnett, Walsh, Tipton, Boshell (Innes 77), Beavers, Whitehall (D McNiven 61), Roberts. Subs (not used): Campbell, Sugden.