ATHLETIC are confident that three key players will recovery from injury before Saturday’s must-win match against Oxford. Paul Rickers, Tony Carss and Shaun Garnett are all under treatment as preparations begin for the visit of division two’s basement club. Oxford have become the whipping boys after losing 15 of their 19 league games and slumping to a terrible position in the league. They are 11 points behind Athletic, whose weekend defeat by Millwall means they occupy the last place in the safety zone. Rickers, Carss and Garnett picked up injuries against Millwall, but they should recover to keep their places in the side. Rickers has a slight groin strain, Carss was kicked on the foot and Garnett is resting a dead leg.

Mark Hotte could return to the squad, provided he emerges unscathed from tonight’s reserve-team match at Stalybridge. The defender has been out for five games to protect a broken hand, but he is named in the team to face Preston in the Avon Insurance League. Though John Sheridan also lines up, the veteran is around two weeks from a first-team comeback. A pitch inspection was being held at Bower Fold this afternoon, with details available from Athletic on 624 4972.

Reserves (from): Miskelly, Jones, Futcher, Hotte, Holt, Prenderville, Salt, Sheridan, Walsh, Sugden, Tipton, Boshell, Smith, McLaughlin, Froggatt, Campbell.

Athletic will use pitch covers for the rest of the season as they aim to protect the Boundary Park surface. The giant covers cost around £8,000 to hire, but the club can’t afford to lose any more fixtures - especially the attractive Christmas games against Wigan and Walsall.

Next Monday’s friendly at Mossley has been postponed due to Athletic’s involvement in the LDV Vans Trophy on Tuesday and the reserve game 24 hours later. The benefit match, in aid of Mossley player Steve Burns, who has a badly broken leg, will be rescheduled.

Paul Smith, the winger whose loan spell with Athletic ended when he fell down a manhole, has returned to training with Burnley six weeks after his accident.

MARK INNES may have been a revelation since moving from midfield to defence, but he is unhappy to still be on the transfer list. The 22-year-old has been up for grabs for nine months and admits: “It has made me feel unsettled.” Innes exploded on to the scene as a youngster and, though he didn’t progress as hoped last season, there was surprise when he was told he could leave. At the time, he said it was a “massive shock”. And being faced by an uncertain future continues to prey on his mind. “When I think about the situation, it is a bit unsettling,” Innes conceded. “I still have a year and a half on my contract, but I don’t know what’s going to happen to me. “If Oldham don’t take me off the list and no-one else comes in, who knows where I’ll stand? “If I was taken off the list, it would make me feel a bit better. At least I’d know exactly how the gaffer feels about things.”

Manager Andy Ritchie recently said he doesn’t want to lose Innes, whose switch to left-back has coincided with improved results. He has been a big success, but Athletic have made no move to secure his services. Innes confessed: “It surprises me a bit that nothing has been said, although, at the end of the day, I suppose it doesn’t make much difference. “If a team did come in with an offer, the club couldn’t afford to refuse it. “If they were from a better league, then obviously I would want to move — that’s natural because everyone wants to play as high as they can. “I have heard rumours about people being interested — there were stories about Tranmere and I was told a few Scottish clubs had watched me. “But I’m quite happy to stay here at the moment and I don’t think all this has affected my game. “If anything, it might even have helped because worrying about the future gives you an incentive to work a bit harder.”

Innes is still finding his feet at left-back, a totally new role for him and one which demands new disciplines. And, like a student at the Open University, he is distance-learning from the comfort of his armchair. “It will take a long time to get it down to a fine art,” Innes explained. “Especially because we don’t have a natural full-back at the club. “I’d say Andy Holt was more of a wing-back, so there’s no-one for me to watch in training day in and day out. “I’m watching full-backs on television instead, and trying to pick up on everything they do. “I’m just seeing what everyone else does and hoping it will rub off on me. “Considering I haven’t been in the position long, I think I’ve done quite well. “I will make mistakes, but as long as they aren’t costly it will be okay. And, so far, they haven’t been too bad. “It has been a big help having David Eyres in front of me because he’s an out-and-out winger who is always going to be available. “But it has been going all right so far — the team hasn’t been conceding a lot of goals.”

At the outset of his career, Innes was seen as a busy midfield schemer with an eye for creating chances. His vocation has been different for the last eight games — five wins, one draw, four clean sheets — and, despite wobbles against Hednesford and Millwall, he continues to keep Holt out of the side. But the Scot doesn’t see his switch as a long-term move, insisting: “I’m used to playing as an attacking midfielder. “I like to be involved all the time, but you don’t see a lot of the ball at full-back. “It’s about defending first and foremost, then getting forward if you get the chance. “It would be good to get back to midfield eventually, but the most important thing is that I’m enjoying it. “Before I was brought into defence, I had watched the previous match from the stands. “So I’m not really bothered where I play, just as long as I’m back in the side.”

Tonight's Reserve team game against Preston at Stalybridge has been postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.

Latics will know later tonight who they face in the second round of the FA Cup on the 9th December. Peterborough and Mansfield replay their first round game at London Road, Peterborough tonight with Peterborough being installed as the firm favourites to progress into next round. Also tonight Brentford and Brighton replay their FA Youth Cup second round game and the winners will provide third opposition for the Latics youngsters. The game provides a long away trip for Latics who will be looking at fixing a date for the game as quickly as possible.

Latics remind fans that next week's LDV Vans Trophy game against Wigan Athletic at Boundary Park on Tuesday 5th December, kick off 7.45pm will have reduced admission prices. It will cost adults just £5 to sit anywhere in the ground with concessions just £1. It will be all pay on the night of the game.

Latics have had to postpone their planned friendly at Mossley on the 4th December following the LDV Vans Trophy draw. The Mossley friendly was arranged to help one of their players who recently sustained a broken leg but Latics now find themselves with a first team game against Wigan Athletic on the 5th December and a Reserve team game on the 6th December. Manager Andy Ritchie said "We are still keen to assist Mossley as much as possible but to field three teams in three days was too much. However we are now looking at trying to find a new date".

Defender Paul Jones will have to serve a one match ban after picking up five yellow cards this season. His fifth booking came in last week's Reserve team victory over Stockport County and the ban takes effect from the 6th December which means he will not be available for the FA Cup game on the 9th December.

Latics Reserves are due to face Preston Reserves tonight at Stalybridge, kick off 7pm. However there is a mid-day pitch inspection at Bower Fold. If the game goes ahead the line-up will be: Miskelly, Jones, Holt, Futcher, Hotte, Prenderville, Salt, Sheridan, Tipton, Sugden, Walsh. Subs: Campbell, Smith, Boshell, McLaughlin, Froggatt. Tonight should see John Sheridan continue his quest to gain full match fitness after being out for three months following a knee operation.

POSH CRUISE TO FA CUP REPLAY SUCCESS

Tony Shields got in on the goal feast at London Road as Peterborough United booked their place in the second round of the AXA FA Cup for the first time in three seasons after earning a 4-0 replay success over Mansfield Town. The young Irishman put the icing on the cake with a goal three minutes from time after Andy Clarke looked to have wrapped up a deserved win for Barry Fry's team who took time to get into top gear after a sluggish start in front of their home crowd. David Oldfield responded to Town's early pressure when he grabbed his second goal of the season on the half an hour mark - and Edwards, then Clarke got in on the goal celebrations after the break. Barry Fry was able to call upon Francis Green to replace Leon McKenzie who failed a late fitness test after suffering concussion at Millmoor on Saturday. Tony Shields gave way for Jason Lee who returned to the starting line up, and Howard Forinton was back in the squad after last appearing back in August.

The game was barely two minutes old when referee Michael Dean reached for his pocket and brandished a yellow card to the over committed Blake who made a two-footed challenge on Drury. Posh then had Tyler to thank four minutes later when he smothered a sweetly struck Greenacre strike at the second attempt. The Stags were enjoying the better of the attacking raids and Bill Dearden's side were unlucky not to be in front on 11 minutes. Greenacre again showed his class and continued to run at the Posh back line - but the lively front man was equally matched by Tyler who used his feet to keep out his headed effort after Williamson floated in from the left. It took Posh 21 minutes to register their first noteworthy shot on goal when once again it was a case of missed goal chances for Fry's men. Rea floated over a long ball to Lee who chested into the path of Forsyth only for the former Blackpool man to side foot into the Moys End crowd from three yards. Farrell then forged a chance for himself but the wingers rasping edge of the area drive ruffled the wrong side of the net. Posh maintained the pressure and Forsyth could not believe his luck when Mimms kept his bullet effort out of the net by pulling off a magnificent one handed stop.

The danger switched to the other end within a minute and Tyler had to spread himself to smother another finely hit Greenacre drive. But OLDFIELD wiped out the concerned look on Fry's face when he expertly picked his spot and fired low past Mimms after seizing on the ball from the edge of the area on 29 minutes. The home side were forced to make a change on the stroke of half time when Drury limped off clutching his right thigh. The management team sent on Shields and goal scorer Oldfield occupied the vacant left back berth. Posh began the second half enjoying all the possession and half chances fell to Green and Clarke before man of the match Tyler had to be at his best, not for the first time during he 90 minutes, when he parried an angled Pemberton drive against the run of play. The chance breathed life into the Stags and Posh's highly rated shot stopper got an out stretched hand to a Boulding cut back that was destined for the boot of Greenacre. The former Manchester City front man then blasted over after being put under pressure from Forsyth in the 63rd minute.

A second round tie with Oldham Athletic looked to have been almost inevitable on 67 minutes, but Clarke somehow missed the target from two four yards after side footing Farrell's centre an inch the wrong side of the upright. But skipper EDWARDS led by example when he rose above the Stags defence to powerfully nod home Farrell's outswinging corner past a helpless Mimms four minutes later. The goal killed Town off as the game drew to a close and the floodgates flung wide open for Posh. Two strikes in three minutes by CLARKE and substitute SHIELDS added the final nails in the Mansfield coffin with six minutes to go.

Albion win through to third round of FA Youth Cup

Two goals from Chris McPhee and one from Rupert Sansom helped Albion to a 3-1 win over Brentford in the second round of the FA Youth Cup tonight. After a goalless first half, all the goals came in the last 12 minutes of normal time, and an astonishing 14 minutes of stoppage time. Chris McPhee headed home Dan Harding's corner on 78 minutes. The Bees hit back on 86 minutes, but in the sixth minute of added time, Rupert Sansom put Albion back in front for 15 yards out. Then in the final minute of the 14 added on, Chris McPhee ran through from the halfway line and calmly slotted Albion's third. Dean Wilkins's side now face a home tie with Oldham in round three.