Robbo looks to up tempo

ANTHONY GERRARD . . . wanted.

THREE new players are being sought in time for Athletic's opening match of 2017.

Manager Stephen Robinson is working on deals for fresh faces in time for the visit of Port Vale on Monday, January 2 - provided the club can get the EFL transfer embargo lifted by then by paying off money owed to rival clubs.

For the time being, though, the focus with the existing group at Sheffield United on Boxing Day is for a faster tempo in attack.

No player is a certainty to start, says Robinson, as he plots a way off the foot of the Sky Bet League One table.

"We have trained hard all week," said the manager, who watched Anthony Gerrard and Marc Klok feature for the reserves in a behind-close-doors game against Bury at Carrington yesterday.

"We know that we don't have enough bite and play too much in front of people.

"We need to get the ball into the box quicker, get more crosses into the box and take our chances.

"I will be shuffling the team and after the last performance, there is nobody guaranteed a place, I can assure you."

Klok, who only recently returned to training after a calf injury, may feature in the New Year's Eve clash at Fleetwood rather than against the Blades. The Dutch midfielder is one of a number of players on short-term contracts, of which a handful may leave in order to facilitate new arrivals within a tight budget.

Robinson remains hopeful that Gerrard - who the Chronicle understands is being chased by two other struggling League One clubs - will sign a deal.

He admits, though, that the embargo is a complicating factor.

"The chairman (Simon Corney) is doing his very best to clear it, but the longer it goes on, the more chance that targets could go elsewhere," Robinson said.

"We are well aware that we need to freshen things up and we need three or four more starters in there to make us more League One-savvy.

"The fear factor at home is a real concern for us and it is something we are working very hard on to address.

"Nobody is under any illusions. We are in a relegation dogfight and we need characters who can pull us out of it."

Robinson also said a solution has been found to ensure the players eat properly, after breakfasts and lunch privileges had been removed.

"We have got the boys to make sure they get their food together now at the club and they will be eating the right things at the right times," he said.