Burgess set to remain

IMPRESSIVE: Athletic defender Cameron Burgess has grown into his role at the back

EVER-IMPROVING centre-back Cameron Burgess is set to stick with Athletic for the rest of the season, while the waiting game over Anthony Gerrard goes on.

On-loan Fulham man Burgess tonight takes on the Lincoln side he helped see off 3-1 on the final day of last season while learning his trade with Cheltenham in the Vanarama National League.

The Aberdeen-born defender had a sticky start when making the leap to Sky Bet League One after Stephen Robinson brought him in on an initial six-month loan.

He has since gone on to form a very solid partnership at the back with the vastly experienced Peter Clarke and Robinson is confident a deal can be struck to keep Burgess on the books at SportsDirect.com Park for the remainder of the campaign.

"We are already speaking to Fulham and they want him to stay and we want him to stay," Robinson said.

"It's just a matter of getting the paperwork done and confirming it.

"I have spoken to Cameron and he is very keen to stay. He is enjoying his time here and he has come on a lot as a player as well.

"I think he has done really well. He made a couple of mistakes in the early weeks but it shows what kind of character he is that it didn't affect him. For me, he has got better and better.

"I think he could go on to bigger and better things. He is only 21 years old, six foot four and left-footed. They don't come around too often.

"He is one that I feel could have a really good career and we are lucky to have him."

As for Gerrard, a calf injury has restricted the free agent's bid to return to full fitness.

He returned to the training pitch last week but it will still take some time for him to get fully up to speed, at which point Robinson will try to negotiate a deal that will bring him in to strengthen the axis of Clarke and Burgess.

As it stands, only Brian Wilson and George Edmundson offer cover at centre-back, with the latter player suspended until early next year.

"Anthony was something we were trying to do quite a few weeks ago, but unfortunately he hasn't trained for three or four weeks," Robinson added.

"He has trained again last week and is looking sharper, but we have to get him to the level of fitness that we can offer something to get him to play.

"Anthony is aware of my thoughts on what we want to do. It is a case of getting him fit."

Athletic's back four have been fully briefed on what to expect from tonight's tie.

Lincoln are expected to direct plenty of traffic towards bulky striker Matt Rhead and the visitors at Sincil Bank have been warned to expect a blizzard from the off that will need to be carefully negotiated.

"The first 15 to 20 minutes of the game will be hectic. There will be lots of tackles flying in and we have to be prepared for that and to match it," Robinson said.

"It will be a 'second ball' game for that period. Then we have to get the ball down and play and hopefully, our quality can come to the fore.

"But that won't happen without winning the battle."