Quartet boost

GET IN: Tope Obadeyi (left) celebrates his first-half goal for Athletic against Sheffield United. The Blades hit back to level after the restart.

ATHLETIC hope to have their missing quartet back in the fray for the next big test at Southend United.

Aaron Amadi-Holloway (hamstring), Rob Hunt (hamstring) and international duo Aiden O'Neill and Ryan McLaughlin are all set to be involved once again for the tough trip to Roots Hall on Saturday.

SEQUENCE

That is the second of four consecutive games against clubs in the top six of Sky Bet League One - a sequence that started promisingly with a hard-fought 1-1 home draw with Sheffield United.

There is, though, a doubt over the fitness of defender Brian Wilson after he suffered a sore Achilles and had to be replaced at half-time by George Edmundson.

"I am hoping Aaron has got a good chance and Rob Hunt too," said manager John Sheridan. "Aiden O'Neill and Ryan McLaughlin will be back, so there are a few bodies who will be available, while we will see how Brian Wilson is.

"They don't get any easier.

"We have Southend and then Fleetwood and Bolton. But that was a good confidence booster, hopefully.

"We matched the top of the league all the way."

Ousmane Fane, Josh Law and goal scorer Tope Obadeyi came in to the starting line-up for O'Neill, McLaughlin and Amadi-Holloway and all played a big part in securing a draw which means Athletic have now been beaten once in their last 10 outings.

Sheridan feels that it shows a strength in depth, albeit with some players lacking 100-per-cent sharpness.

"Even the lads on the bench, I feel would probably be playing in other teams in this league," Athletic's manager added.

"The only problem I find is that the ones who have not been playing are not at match tempo, as they have not been playing due to us doing ok.

CHANGES

"I haven't made too many changes and a lot of players are getting regular football.

"The ones who aren't, when you do need them, they are a bit short.

"You could see that with Ousmane in the last 15 minutes as he put a shift in and Josh I knew would get tired.

"I just have to prepare them the best I can and keep those who haven't been playing as sharp and match-fit as possible."

McLaughlin was an unused substitute as Northern Ireland picked up an impressive 2-0 win over Norway at Windsor Park last night to stay on course for a World Cup play-off spot.

The result leaves Northern Ireland second in Group 'C', five points behind leaders Germany and two clear of third-placed Czech Republic.

SOCCEROOS

O'Neill is away with Australia's under-23s squad at a training camp in Murcia, Spain.

After a 1-1 draw with Austria on Friday evening, the young Socceroos are set to take on Finland tonight.