Decision day looming over short-term fixes

PENALTY HERO: Lee Croft scored the winner in a shoot-out at Blackburn Rovers recently, but will he still be around for the second half of the season?

ATHLETIC manager Stephen Robinson has a set of crucial decisions to make as he sets about re-shaping his squad the end of this month . . . but who will stay and who will go?

Lee Croft, Marc Klok, Charles Dunne and Calaum Jahraldo-Martin all find themselves at a crossroads, with short-term deals having expired come January.

Added to that there is the duo of Cameron Burgess and Freddie Ladapo, on loan from Fulham and Crystal Palace respectively.

That adds up to six players in total, some of whom will have to leave the club in order to create room in the playing budget for Robinson to freshen things up.

Here, we take a look at each player's chances of earning a longer stay at SportsDirect.com Park -

LEE CROFT (two starts, 13 substitute appearances): The winger has been almost exclusively used as a substitute this season, but Robinson has talked often about the value he sees in Croft entering the game at a late stage to hand Athletic control with his clever runs and careful use of the ball. He looks likely to be kept on and the main question is whether he can get fit enough to be considered ready to start games.

MARC KLOK (8 starts, 4 as sub): Missed out at Lincoln due to a calf injury. While that was possibly a blessing given the result, the battling Dutch midfielder has only featured once on the field since September, as a 70th-minute substitute against Scunthorpe. Interestingly, Klok's record is decent: Athletic have only lost twice in the 10 league matches he has featured in. That statistic may not be enough to preserve his career at the club.

CHARLES DUNNE (14 starts, 1 as sub): The left-back looks a better bet than most to stay on for the second half of the season. He has had difficult games but after Jamie Reckord had a nightmare outing at Lincoln, Dunne appears the number one choice in his position again. Robinson has already talked warmly about the ex-Wycombe and Blackpool player and it seems likely he will stay.

CALAUM JAHRALDO-MARTIN (1 start, 4 as sub): His opening cameo against Northampton promised much, but the left-footed winger suffered an injury on debut and since then has failed to nail down a place. Recent adverse comments on his readiness in terms of match fitness by Robinson also cast doubt on whether he will be offered renewed terms when his deal runs out next month.

CAMERON BURGESS (26 appearances): The young centre-back from Craven Cottage is the only man to have featured in every single one of Athletic's league and cup outings this season. It hasn't always been a smooth ride - Lincoln was tough - but the Scot is clearly well-liked by Robinson, who has confirmed his intention that Burgess will stay at the club for the rest of the campaign.

FREDDIE LADAPO (12 starts, 5 as sub): The 23-year-old striker is on a learning curve in the professional game, having only recently been plucked form non-league by Crystal Palace. There is a striker there - the substitute appearance at Gillingham and a smart showing recently at Scunthorpe illustrate that - but is this the right environment in which to blood a player of raw potential? That is the dilemma for Robinson, who has the option of extending the loan on January 2.