Running man

MIDFIELDER Paul Green is in line to step in for the suspended Ousmane Fane

OUSMANE Fane's suspension for the Southend test tomorrow is a major blow for Athletic, but this time the ban has been managed to allow hard-running Paul Green a well-earned breather.

Fane (23) was red-carded for collecting two bookings at Oxford, the first of which was the softest of yellow cards.

It was the second dismissal of the season for the French prospect, who was also given his marching orders for two yellow cards against Shrewsbury in September.

This time around, though, the new rules concerning the Checkatrade Trophy allowed manager Stephen Robinson to mitigate his upcoming two-match absence.

Additional group games in the revamped competition led to a decision that regular suspensions will not be served in the competition.

That meant that Fane was allowed to play at Walsall, while allowing Green (33) a breather.

"Ousmane was terrific at Walsall and he is a big loss for us now," Robinson said. "He is improving and we know what he is good at - but I think in football sometimes, people concentrate too much on what you are not good at.

"He is brilliant at breaking up play and when he strides forward with the ball and is positive, nobody can catch him. We are trying to encourage him to do it more.

"We will miss him on Saturday, but we have got Greeny to come back in and that is the reason I left him out completely, to rest a couple of knocks.

"He ran 26km in the last two games and his running stats are unbelievable and at his age as well, so we need to protect him."

Those statistics compare well to the official figures released on behalf of Premier League clubs last season.

ABSENCE

The top-running player in the top flight in 2015-16 was Bournemouth's Dan Gosling, who averaged 11.9km per match, while Tottenham and England star Dele Alli on average ran for 11.8km in each game.

Green's absence aside, Robinson said his plan to out out an otherwise full-strength team at Walsall was down to a desire to create some momentum heading in to a crucial period of league action.

Robinson is hoping that the midweek victory in the Checkatrade Trophy can lead to an instant upturn in fortunes in the league.

After beating Fleetwood in the group stages, Athletic then overcame Gillingham 2-1.

Athletic, in fact, won two of their next three after the win at Highbury Stadium, a first victory in 10 outings at the time. A similar run now, with away tests at Sheffield United and Fleetwood to come next, would provide a huge fillip heading into the New Year.

"It was one of the reasons that I put a strong side out," Robinson said. "We haven't had any momentum this season, winning one and drawing, then losing a couple.

"We have lost the least number of games in the bottom half of the table barring Walsall, funnily enough. But we have also won the least.

"We have simply not taken our chances and that has been the difference between climbing the table and not."