Dunne blow for Latics

Charles Dunne.

ATHLETIC defender Charles Dunne has suffered an injury setback which has ruled him out of action for the next month.

The former Blackpool and Wycombe player has not featured since hurting himself at Sheffield United on Boxing Day.

After visiting a specialist last week, the news came back that Dunne (23) has a hairline crack in his pelvis.

"It is really small but has to be rested, otherwise it won't heal properly," said Athletic's assistant manager Ian Baraclough. "He is looking at four or five weeks, that sort of time scale.

"It came as a surprise and a disappointment both to Charles and to ourselves.

"Charles had been playing there and had been fairly solid and with a new manager coming in it is important for players to showcase themselves and let him know what they are all about."

Dunne has reached the 15-appearance mark that means his contract is extended up to at least the end of this season, but his absence and the loss of Cameron Burgess means out-of-favour Jamie Reckord is the only fit left-footed defender currently available to John Sheridan.

Athletic's new boss, who is planning to make a number of new signings this week, remains without Lee Croft for the trip to Shrewsbury on Saturday.

Croft's hamstring injury, which saw him forced off in the Checkatrade Trophy loss at Mansfield, rules him out for at least the next week.

Darius Osei came off with a similar concern during the win over Gillingham, but it is possible that he may recover in time to feature at Greenhous Meadow.

Baraclough, meanwhile, has had his say on the arrival last week of Sheridan as a replacement for Stephen Robinson and believes that Athletic have made what the club would consider to be a sensible appointment.

"The chairman has looked at it, acted quickly and gone with what he perceives as a safe pair of hands," said Baraclough.

"He knows the club very well and has had a certain amount of success with the club. Keeping the club up last year was success in terms of the way it is measured.

"Some of the players have worked with him before and it was one the fans could relate to as well.

"I think John would say that apart from Notts County not being as positive as he would have liked, everywhere else he has made his mark."