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ALL EYES ON TRAINING...Aiden O'Neill

ATHLETIC captain Peter Clarke has been fully backed to play a leading role for Athletic by his manager, who also slammed the fixture schedule for potentially derailing a deal for a new striker.

Centre-back Clarke was the subject of a deadline-day bid from Scunthorpe but despite indicating an interest in the move, Athletic stood firm to retain the 35-year-old.

As far as Sheridan is concerned, that is the end of the matter. It means Clarke will lead a changed Athletic side out at Chesterfield tomorrow as usual.

"I don't think anything of it now," said Sheridan, who has three new signings in Aiden O'Neill, Chris Taylor and Tope Obadeyi at his disposal for the Proact Stadium clash.

"Clarkey is here, he's my captain and he is a top professional and a top player.

"He is everything we need for the position we are in. I just look at it that way and I am pleased he is still here."

On the unsuccessful hunt for a new striker to replace outgoing Billy Mckay, Sheridan felt that having matches played the same night as Tuesday's deadline created an issue.

There were a total of 14 fixtures in the Premier League and Championship as clubs throughout the system tried to get last-minute deals done before the 11pm cut-off point.

"We made loads of phone calls, myself and the chairman, trying to get someone in. Unfortunately, it was difficult and too late in the day," said Sheridan, who had been linked with a move for Blackburn's Anthony Stokes.

"I do not understand why they have football fixtures on deadline day. I find it stupid. It makes life difficult.

"Sometimes you do get them late in the day but when teams have got games, it was quite hard.

"It wasn't for the lack of trying. But I have five strikers here and Chris Taylor and Tope Obadeyi can play there too.

"I have to find the right system and team to try to score goals that will win us games."

One player who did arrive was Burnley's Aiden O'Neill and he will get his first start tomorrow.

Sheridan paid tribute to chairman Simon Corney for getting the loan deal done and he has no concerns over the 18-year-old's inexperience.

"I told Aiden that I could have got an experienced 27-year-old if I had wanted," added Sheridan. "I brought him in because he's a good player. It doesn't matter if he's 18 or 30.

"I want him to enjoy himself, get on the ball, dominate games and be cocky as a footballer, not as a person.

"I'm hoping he comes in to give us a bit of calmness and retains the ball, as Matty Palmer did for us."

Athletic will leapfrog Chesterfield, who are in 22nd, with a win tomorrow, but Sheridan is keen not to focus too much on any one particular fixture.

"You don't want them gaining an advantage on us," he said. "But we are going to lose games. We all know without me saying what points tally will probably keep us up.

"There are 18 games left and you can gain confidence quickly by winning matches."

Darius Osei played for 70 minutes in a behind-closed-doors friendly this week and could come into contention, while Lee Croft may not quite be ready for action yet. Croft's current short-term contract expires on Monday.

Athletic (probable, 3-5-2): Ripley; Wilson, Clarke, Gerrard; Hunt, Green, Fane, O'Neill, Taylor; Amadi-Holloway, McLaughlin. Subs (from): Kettings, Law, Reckord, Edmundson, Flynn, Banks, Osei, Erwin, Ngoo, Obadeyi.

Sky Bet League One fixtures - Tomorrow: Bradford v Gillingham; Charlton v Fleetwood; Chesterfield v ATHLETIC; Coventry v Millwall; MK Dons v Bolton; Port Vale v Peterborough; Rochdale v Bristol Rovers; Sheffield United v AFC Wimbledon; Shrewsbury v Bury; Southend v Scunthorpe; Walsall v Northampton. Sunday: Swindon v Oxford (noon).